They used lead-based paint to make the food look more colorful: 247 children poisoned

In China, it emerged that a preschool had mixed lead‑containing, food‑forbidden pigments into meals to make them more vivid and appetizing. Of the 251 children tested in the scandal, abnormal lead levels were found in the blood of 247. The court sentenced the preschool's operator to life imprisonment and also imposed prison terms on other responsible parties.

They Added Non‑Food Paint to Meals

The incident occurred at Heshi Peixin Preschool in Tianshui city, Gansu province, China. The investigation found that the school administration wanted the prepared foods to look more colorful and attract more attention in promotions.

For this purpose, it was discovered that lead‑containing pigments obtained online, which are unsuitable for food use, were used in the school kitchen. The substances were reportedly added to dough mixtures to prepare bread, cakes, and similar foods.

Authorities revealed that, despite warnings on the paints stating they were not suitable for consumption, the substances were still added to the foods.

High Lead Levels Detected in 247 of 251 Children

The scandal emerged over the health problems children experienced and the complaints of families in July 2025. Tests revealed that of the 251 children examined, 247 had abnormally high blood lead levels.

Staff working at the kindergarten were also brought under scrutiny. Of the 34 employees tested, abnormal results were found in all 34.

In addition to symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and abdominal pain, reports noted hair loss and changes in tooth color. The incident sparked serious concerns about the safety of food served at the school.

Lifetime imprisonment for the kindergarten's operator

The case was heard at the Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court. The court sentenced kindergarten operator Li Huifang to life imprisonment.

The kindergarten's administrative director Zhu Jinglin received a 15‑year prison sentence, while four kitchen staff involved in mixing paint into food were each sentenced to between six and eight years in prison.

The court also decided to seize Li Huifang's assets worth 500,000 yuan and to impose a fine of 300,000 yuan on Zhu Jinglin.

Lead Threatens Children's Development

Lead poses a serious risk, especially for the developing brains and nervous systems of children. Exposure to this substance can lead to learning difficulties, attention problems, and impairments in cognitive development.

High levels of exposure can also cause serious damage in various systems of the body. Therefore, ensuring that the substances used in foods consumed by children are safe is of great importance.

The incident that emerged in China exposed how a practice carried out to attract more attention could endanger children's health, while also bringing the importance of food safety and inspections in educational institutions back into the spotlight.