TIANSHUI, October 16, 2026 — A court in China sentenced six people to prison for serving lead-tainted food to over 200 children at a kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu province.
Sentencing of Perpetrators
Li Huifang, the operator of Heshi Peixin Kindergarten, was sentenced to life in prison, with 500,000 yuan ($75,000) of her personal assets ordered to be confiscated, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Zhu Jinglin, the kindergarten’s executive principal, received a 15-year prison term and a 300,000 yuan ($44,800) fine. Four kitchen workers were sentenced to prison terms of between six and eight years, also with fines. The Lanzhou Intermediate People’s Court ruled that Li and Zhu instructed the kitchen staff to add toxic and harmful substances to food consumed by young children and kindergarten staff.
Lead Exposure Health Risks
In July 2025, more than 200 students and over 20 staff members were found to have abnormally high blood lead levels. Media reports indicated the school added inedible lead-containing pigments to food for visual appeal. High levels of lead exposure can damage a child’s brain and nervous system. A provincial investigation found that contaminated pastries had been served to children and staff monthly since May 2024. Tests showed that 247 of 251 children examined had abnormal blood lead levels.
Government Response and Investigation
All affected children received hospital treatment or nutritional interventions at home. By July 20, 2025, most had completed their first round of treatment and had been discharged from hospital. Medical experts reported an average 40.21% reduction in blood lead levels, meeting projected treatment targets. The investigation also led to disciplinary probes involving 10 local officials, including the provincial health commission director and senior leaders in Tianshui. The Gansu provincial government has pledged continued support for the children’s medical care and recovery.
Aftermath and Support for Affected Children
The kindergarten in Maiji district, Tianshui, caused a major lead poisoning scandal in 2025. An official investigation found that food served at the kindergarten had been contaminated with pigments containing lead 2,000 times the national safety standard, resulting in abnormally high blood lead levels in 247 children and dozens of staff members. All affected children received medical care or home-based nutritional support as part of the ongoing response.
Additional Legal Penalties and Scope of the Investigation
The Lanzhou Intermediate People’s Court not only imposed prison terms but also stripped Li Huifang of her political rights for life, a sanction that bars her from any future participation in public affairs, according to Xinhua as cited by Qazinform. While Zhu Jinglin received a 15‑year sentence and a 300,000‑yuan fine, the four kitchen workers who carried out the orders were each sentenced to six‑to‑eight years in prison and were also ordered to pay fines, though the exact amounts were not disclosed in the court report.
Investigators examined 251 children from the kindergarten; blood tests showed that 247 of them had abnormal lead levels, underscoring the breadth of the exposure. The provincial probe traced the contamination to pastries that had been served monthly for more than a year, confirming that the toxic pigments were deliberately added to make the food appear more colorful. The case prompted disciplinary actions against ten local officials, including the provincial health commission director, reflecting the authorities’ emphasis on accountability at multiple administrative levels.
Investigation Timeline and Key Findings
The provincial investigation into the lead contamination at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten began after abnormal blood lead levels were detected in July 2025. According to the investigation report released that month, contaminated pastries had been served to children and staff monthly since May 2024, indicating a prolonged period of exposure. Tests conducted during the probe revealed that 247 out of 251 children examined had abnormal blood lead levels, confirming the widespread impact of the tainted food.
The investigation traced the source of contamination to inedible lead-containing pigments that were deliberately added to food to enhance its visual appeal. These pigments were found to contain lead at levels 2,000 times the national safety standard, as determined by official testing. The findings underscored the intentional nature of the adulteration, which was carried out under the direction of the kindergarten’s leadership to make meals more attractive to young children.
In addition to identifying the toxic substances and their duration of use, the investigation led to disciplinary actions against ten local officials, including the provincial health commission director and senior leaders in Tianshui. The probe highlighted systemic failures in oversight and prompted accountability measures across multiple administrative levels, reflecting the authorities’ response to the scandal’s severity.
Sources
- China sentences 6 for lead-tainted kindergarten food that sickened over 200 children
- China sentences 6 for lead-tainted kindergarten food that sickened over 200 children
- Kindergarten head gets life sentence for poisoning 247 children in NW China
