More Than 200 Children Get Lead Poisoning from Food Served at an Elementary School
Cake and corn roll sausages served to children at Peixin Kindergarten in the Chinese city of Tianshui caused the high levels, test results showed
Several people, including the school's principal, have since been arrested as the investigation remains ongoingSeveral people have been arrested after more than 200 young students were found to have high levels of lead in their blood due to paint allegedly being added to their food at school.
An investigation was launched into Peixin Kindergarten in the Chinese city of Tianshui on July 1, after authorities received reports from the public of abnormally high levels of lead in the blood of some of the children attending the school, CNN and local outlet CCTV News reported.
According to the city's government report, which was obtained by CCTV News, lead was found in 'three-color red date steamed cake' that was served for breakfast, as well as 'a corn roll sausage" that was provided "for dinner.'
'The lead content of the two samples was 1,052 mg/kg and 1,340 mg/kg, respectively, both exceeding the national food safety standard of 0.5 mg/kg for food contaminants,' the report stated, per the local outlet.
CCTV News added that test results showed that 233 of the 251 children enrolled had abnormal blood lead levels. Nearby schools Weibei Kindergarten, Ci'ai Kindergarten and Mengdi'ai Kindergarten were also tested, but the blood results from those students showed normal levels.
According to the government report, principal Zhu Moulin and Li Moufang, who backed the school financially, allegedly instructed the establishment's kitchen staff to buy paint online and use it in some food production after dilution.
The paint used contained lead with 'packaging clearly marked that it was not edible," the report stated.
Video footage obtained by the U.K.'s Sky News shows a kitchen staff member allegedly pouring the paint into a bowl, before being helped by another staff member to prepare the food.
Moulin, Moufang and eight others were eventually detained on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food, while two others, whose identities have not been made public, were put on bail pending trial, CCTV News reported.
Peixin Kindergarten obtained a certificate to run the school in 2022, and students were later enrolled in August 2024, the local outlet added.
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The government report said officials "are deeply saddened by the physical and mental harm caused to the children and parents of Maiji District Peixin Kindergarten."
It added that the investigation into the situation remains ongoing.
Peixin Kindergarten could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE for comment on Sunday, July 13.
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