Mass Lead Poisoning Scandal Rocks Chinese Kindergarten, Sparks Nationwide Outrage and Calls for Reform
A serious food safety incident occurred at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, where the kindergarten was found to have illegally added paint containing lead to food served to children. Out of 251 children tested, 233 were found to have abnormal blood lead levels, with only 18 children having normal readings. The kindergarten principal, Zhu Rulin, and investor Li Fang, approved kitchen staff to purchase decorative paint online, which was then diluted and added to food preparation, despite the paint packaging clearly indicating it was not edible and contained lead.
8 July 2025
The food samples tested showed extreme contamination, with three-colored date cake containing lead levels of 1,052 mg/kg and corn sausage roll containing 1,340 mg/kg, exceeding the national safety standard of 0.5 mg/kg by over 2,000 times. Eight people have been criminally detained, including the principal, and two additional people are under coercive measures, with the case being treated as a criminal matter of producing toxic and harmful food.
The incident has sparked widespread public outrage due to the harm caused to young children, the deliberate nature of adding inedible paint to food, and the extremely high levels of contamination. There are also questions about oversight and regulation of private kindergartens, as well as concerns about attempted cover-ups, given the discrepancies between lead level test results from Tianshui and Xi'an hospitals.
People are particularly outraged that the kindergarten deliberately used paint clearly labeled as "not edible" in food preparation, and the fact that kitchen staff purchased industrial paint through e-commerce platforms for food use has sparked intense criticism. The revelation that 233 out of 251 children tested showed abnormal blood lead levels has horrified the public, and the fact that lead levels in food samples were 2000+ times over the legal limit has caused particular alarm.
There is also deep concern about the irreversible nature of lead poisoning in children, with parents and netizens worrying about the long-term health impacts on affected children. The public is angry that this was done to "expand enrollment and increase profits" according to investigators, and there is criticism of the extreme cost-cutting measures that put children at risk.
The incident has prompted broader discussions about food safety in educational institutions and the need for stricter oversight of kindergartens, with many using this case as an example of how profit-driven management can lead to devastating consequences in childcare settings. The government has responded with immediate implementation of comprehensive kindergarten inspections, development of stricter food safety protocols, and enhanced cross-departmental coordination between education, health, and market supervision authorities.
The incident represents a watershed moment that will likely reshape China's approach to food safety regulation in educational institutions, private education sector oversight, child protection measures, emergency response protocols, and industry accountability standards. The development of specialized treatment protocols, enhanced focus on preventive screening, and improved emergency response mechanisms will be crucial in addressing the aftermath of this incident. Ultimately, the Tianshui kindergarten lead poisoning case highlights the need for stronger regulatory systems, stricter enforcement of food safety laws, and increased accountability to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
