A shocking report details how the Peixin Kindergarten lead poisoning incident involved numerous officials and hospital staff attempting to mask the severity of the crisis, leading to outrage and urgent reforms.
China Uncovers Cover-Up in Lead Poisoning of Hundreds of Children
China Uncovers Cover-Up in Lead Poisoning of Hundreds of Children
An investigation reveals officials' complicity in a kindergarten lead poisoning scandal, raising alarm over food safety standards.
An official investigation into the lead poisoning case affecting 200 children at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu province, has unveiled serious misconduct among local officials and healthcare workers. The scandal arose when it was discovered that the kindergarten had utilized inedible paint to "enhance" meals served to children, a practice aimed at boosting enrollment.
Authorities reported that dozens of provincial officials tampered with blood tests to downplay the extent of lead poisoning among the children. The investigation revealed that city officials accepted bribes from an investor associated with Peixin while failing to carry out necessary food safety inspections at several pre-schools in the area.
As part of their strategy to attract more students, chefs at Peixin Kindergarten deceptively used toxic paint, resulting in food samples containing lead levels exceeding national safety limits by 2,000 times. Initial arrests included eight individuals connected to the production of contaminated snacks, with six subsequently arrested, while ten others face formal accountability measures, and 17 are under further investigation.
Reports surfaced in July indicating that 235 children required hospitalization for lead poisoning linked to eating steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns. Fortunately, 234 of these children have since been discharged. Following symptoms observed among students earlier this month, the Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention conducted tests on 267 students and staff. However, findings indicated that officials were negligent, leading to distorted results due to a serious breach of operating protocol.
The investigation criticized the management of the case by Tianshui No. 2 People's Hospital and noted widespread public concern over accountability. The Chinese internet community has reacted with mixed responses, praising transparency while demanding justice for those responsible.
In response to this alarming incident, the central government has swiftly created national guidelines to enhance food safety in schools, requiring food tests before consumption and centralized procurement of food supplies. Tianshui's authorities have pledged free medical treatment for affected children and legal assistance for families impacted by this scandal, while Peixin Kindergarten will be temporarily overseen by a state-run institution.
