China: 233 Children Poisoned After Inedible Paint Used to Decorate School Meals

Edited By: Aminata Diallo

A shocking case of food contamination has emerged in north-west China, where 233 children from a kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu province, have been diagnosed with lead poisoning after consuming meals laced with inedible paint.

Authorities have arrested eight individuals, including the principal and main investor of the privately-run Peixin Kindergarten, after laboratory tests revealed that food samples contained lead levels up to 2,000 times above the national safety threshold. Specifically, the red date cakes and corn sausage buns were found to contain 1,052 mg/kg and 1,340 mg/kg of lead respectively—far exceeding the legal limit of 0.5 mg/kg.

Investigators say the kindergarten principal instructed kitchen staff to purchase decorative paint online to enhance the visual appeal of meals. The paint, which was explicitly labeled “inedible,” was later discovered hidden on the premises after children began to fall ill.

Surveillance footage reportedly shows kitchen employees adding the pigment directly into food preparations. Parents began raising concerns in March, citing their children’s persistent symptoms, including stomach and leg pain, as well as loss of appetite. The incident only came to light after parents insisted on medical testing, prompting authorities to act.

Mr. Liu, the father of one affected child, told the BBC he feared for the long-term health consequences, especially on his son’s liver and digestive system. His son is currently undergoing a 10-day treatment program in Xi’an.

The mayor of Tianshui, Liu Lijiang, acknowledged the failure in public food safety oversight and pledged to implement stronger supervision mechanisms moving forward.

This case has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny over food safety standards in educational institutions across China.