In a shocking revelation, officials in Gansu province, north-west China, have been implicated in a cover-up involving a lead poisoning case that has harmed hundreds of children. An official investigation has concluded that numerous local government officials and hospital staff attempted to conceal the extent of the poisoning, which occurred at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city.
The investigation disclosed that Peixin staff used inedible paint to make the meals visually appealing in a bid to attract more students. Unfortunately, the food samples tested revealed lead levels exceeding the national safety limit by an alarming 2,000 times. Initially, eight individuals, including the kindergarten's principal and related cooks, were detained for their roles in this hazardous situation; six of them have since been arrested.
In early July, it was reported that 235 children were receiving treatment for lead poisoning after consuming contaminated steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns. As of the latest updates, 234 of these students have been released from the hospital.
Further scrutiny revealed that local health authorities, tasked with testing students for lead exposure, failed to follow proper procedures, which compromised the accuracy of the results. The investigation highlighted serious negligence on the part of hospital staff involved in managing the crisis, labeling their response as chaotic.
The report sparked significant discussion on Chinese social media, with some individuals praising the government's transparency in the investigation while others demanded accountability from those responsible. In response to the public outcry, the Chinese central government took swift action, forming an expert panel to address the gaps in current procedures.
As a part of the aftermath, new national guidelines have been introduced regarding food safety in schools, including mandatory testing of food batches and centralized procurement of essential ingredients. Additionally, the Gansu authorities announced that children affected by the lead poisoning would receive free medical care and legal support for impacted families. Meanwhile, Peixin Kindergarten will temporarily operate under the management of a state-owned institution to ensure better oversight and safety standards.
