Kindergarten Owner Sentenced to Life in Prison After More Than 200 Children Were Poisoned by Lead-Tainted Food

A shocking food safety scandal in China has ended with severe prison sentences after more than 200 children at a kindergarten were found to have dangerously elevated levels of lead in their blood. Investigators discovered that toxic, non-edible paint had allegedly been added to meals served at the school to make the food look more appealing. The case has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the safety of meals provided to young children in places where parents expect them to be protected.

The incident centered on Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, a city in China’s northwestern Gansu province. Authorities launched an investigation in July 2025 after concerns emerged about unusually high blood lead levels among children attending the school. Testing eventually revealed that 233 of the kindergarten’s 251 students had abnormal blood lead levels. More than 20 staff members were also reportedly affected, making the scale of the contamination even more alarming.

According to findings reported by Chinese state media, the kindergarten’s operator, Li Huifang, and executive principal Zhu Jinglin instructed four kitchen employees to purchase paint containing lead and use it during food preparation. The paint’s packaging clearly stated that it was not suitable for consumption. Nevertheless, the substance was reportedly diluted and mixed into food served to children and staff. Video footage released by media outlets showed kitchen workers handling the paint in the preparation area.

Among the contaminated foods identified by investigators were red-date steamed cakes served at breakfast and corn-and-sausage buns provided for dinner. Laboratory testing found lead concentrations of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram in the cakes and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram in the buns. Those levels were dramatically higher than China’s national food safety limit of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram for lead in food. Investigators said the paint had been used to give the food a brighter appearance, making the discovery particularly disturbing given that the meals were intended for young children.

The court’s ruling brought prison terms for six people involved in the case. Li Huifang was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined 500,000 yuan, with personal assets of the same value ordered confiscated. Zhu Jinglin received a 15-year prison sentence and a 300,000-yuan fine. Four kitchen workers were sentenced to between six and eight years in prison for their roles in preparing the contaminated meals. The court found that the school’s management had directed the kitchen staff to add toxic substances to food consumed by the children and employees.

The consequences of lead exposure can be especially serious for young children, whose brains and nervous systems are still developing. High levels of lead in the body can contribute to neurological damage, developmental difficulties and other long-term health problems. Some children may not show obvious symptoms immediately, making medical testing and continued monitoring important. The scale of the contamination has left families facing concerns that extend far beyond the immediate incident, particularly regarding the children’s future development and well-being.

The scandal has also raised concerns about oversight and accountability within educational institutions. Parents entrust kindergartens with their children’s daily care, including the food they eat, and expect basic safety standards to be followed. In this case, the use of a substance explicitly labeled as inedible demonstrated a serious breakdown in that responsibility. Reports surrounding the investigation also raised questions about whether the scale of the incident had initially been concealed, adding to public anger over the case.

For the affected families, the prison sentences mark an important legal development, but they cannot erase the health risks their children have faced. The case has become a stark reminder that food safety violations in schools can have devastating consequences, especially when those responsible knowingly ignore warnings about dangerous substances. As the children continue to need attention and follow-up care, the lasting impact of the scandal may be measured not only by the sentences handed down, but also by the long-term health of those who were exposed.

Source: PEOPLE