China uncovers cover-up in Lead poisoning of 200 children

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1046 EAT on Wednesday 23 July 2025

Dozens of provincial officials and hospital staff attempted to cover up a lead poisoning incident that sickened hundreds of children in north-west China, according to the findings of an official investigation that has sparked national outrage.

The Gansu provincial government reported on Sunday that officials had tampered with blood test results of students poisoned at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui City.

Investigators also found that city officials accepted bribes from an investor in the kindergarten while failing to conduct proper food safety inspections across several pre-schools.

In a bid to attract more students, Peixin’s kitchen staff reportedly used inedible paint to “enhance the look” of meals served to children, the report said.

Food samples were later found to contain lead levels 2,000 times higher than the national safety limit, according to the investigation.

Eight individuals were initially detained in connection with the production of the toxic snacks. Six of them—including the kindergarten’s principal, kitchen staff, and an investor—have since been formally arrested.

Ten government officials will face “formal accounting procedures,” while an additional 17 individuals are under disciplinary investigation.

Authorities first disclosed the incident on 8 July, revealing that 235 children from the privately-run Peixin Kindergarten had been hospitalized for lead poisoning after consuming steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns.

As of Sunday, 234 of the affected children have been discharged from hospital.

The Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was ordered to test 267 students and staff at Peixin Kindergarten after several children began showing symptoms earlier this month. However, investigators found that officials “did not take the work seriously,” and the individual responsible for the tests had “seriously violated operating procedures,” resulting in distorted outcomes.

The official report named several individuals under investigation and detailed the lead concentrations found in various food samples.

It also accused staff at Tianshui No. 2 People’s Hospital of “serious dereliction of duty,” describing the institution’s handling of the case as “chaotic.”

The incident has drawn widespread attention across Chinese social media. While some users praised what they saw as a rare instance of government transparency, others demanded greater accountability and stricter punishments for those involved.

While the report criticized local and provincial authorities, it noted a “quick response” from the central government, which swiftly convened an expert panel to examine procedural failures and offer recommendations.

In response to the scandal, Chinese authorities on Monday issued new national guidelines for meal safety in schools. The rules mandate that all new batches of food be tested before consumption and require schools to source staple ingredients—such as rice, flour, and cooking oil—through centralized procurement.

Local authorities in Tianshui also announced that children suffering from lead poisoning will receive free treatment at designated hospitals, and legal assistance will be provided to affected families. Management of Peixin Kindergarten will be temporarily handed over to a state-run institution.

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