Report

In a disturbing case of food contamination, more than 200 children at a kindergarten in Tianshui, northwestern China’s Gansu province, were found with abnormally high levels of lead in their blood. Authorities traced the source to food served at the school, which reportedly contained industrial-grade painting pigments used as dye. The local government initiated an investigation after several children reported persistent symptoms, including diarrhoea, hair loss, and nosebleeds, over the past few months. Of the 251 children tested, only 18 showed normal blood lead levels.

Food Samples Reveal Alarming Lead Levels

Investigators tested 223 food samples from the kindergarten. Two of the samples contained dangerously high concentrations of lead, over 1,000 mg per kg, vastly exceeding China’s national food safety limit of 0.5 mg per kg. Authorities discovered that the school had illegally used diluted, lead-containing paint pigments as food dye — despite clear warnings on the packaging stating the product was “inedible.” Staff reportedly bought the pigments online. In response, police detained eight individuals, including the kindergarten’s director, on suspicion of providing harmful food. The investigation remains ongoing, and the school faces serious legal and public backlash.

Public Demands Transparency and Accountability

The incident has reignited widespread concern over food safety in China, with hashtags related to the case gaining millions of views on Chinese social media. Users voiced doubts about the investigation’s transparency and questioned whether the painting pigment alone explained the children’s illnesses.

Food Safety Fears Resurface in China

This latest case adds to a string of troubling food safety incidents in China. In 2023, authorities fined seven companies for transporting edible oil in coal oil-contaminated trucks. Another scandal involved a school in Yunnan province accused of serving rotten pork to students. Public trust in food safety remains fragile, with parents and consumers calling for stricter enforcement, transparent investigations, and accountability at all levels of the supply chain.

Source: Live Mint