In a shocking revelation, authorities in Gansu province have uncovered a cover-up involving dozens of provincial officials and hospital personnel in a lead poisoning crisis at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city. The investigation, released on Sunday, disclosed that these officials manipulated blood test results to conceal the severity of the poisoning, which affected hundreds of young students.
The disturbing incidents began when Peixin Kindergarten staff resorted to using inedible paint to "enhance the look" of meals, falsely hoping to attract more enrollments. Unfortunately, food tests later revealed lead levels that exceeded safety limits by 2,000 times. In response to the situation, eight individuals were initially detained, with six—including the principal, several cooks, and an investor—now facing arrest.
The alarming scale of the crisis emerged publicly back in July when it was reported that 235 children were hospitalized after consuming steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns. As of the latest updates, 234 children have been discharged, following treatment for lead poisoning.
Further investigation highlighted negligence, as the Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was criticized for its lackadaisical approach to testing affected students. Reportedly, improper testing procedures resulted in distorted findings, leading to allegations of dereliction of duty against staff at the Tianshui No. 2 People's Hospital.
Amidst public outrage, the report noted some praise for the government's transparency, while many called for accountability for the involved parties. In a marked contrast to local-level deficiencies, the central government acted swiftly to address the issue, convening expert panels to assess procedural shortcomings.
On Monday, the Chinese government instituted national guidelines to improve food safety in schools, mandating rigorous testing of all new food batches. Additionally, Tianshui officials announced free medical care for affected children and legal support for their families, while Peixin Kindergarten will be temporarily managed by a state-run institution.
The disturbing incidents began when Peixin Kindergarten staff resorted to using inedible paint to "enhance the look" of meals, falsely hoping to attract more enrollments. Unfortunately, food tests later revealed lead levels that exceeded safety limits by 2,000 times. In response to the situation, eight individuals were initially detained, with six—including the principal, several cooks, and an investor—now facing arrest.
The alarming scale of the crisis emerged publicly back in July when it was reported that 235 children were hospitalized after consuming steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns. As of the latest updates, 234 children have been discharged, following treatment for lead poisoning.
Further investigation highlighted negligence, as the Gansu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention was criticized for its lackadaisical approach to testing affected students. Reportedly, improper testing procedures resulted in distorted findings, leading to allegations of dereliction of duty against staff at the Tianshui No. 2 People's Hospital.
Amidst public outrage, the report noted some praise for the government's transparency, while many called for accountability for the involved parties. In a marked contrast to local-level deficiencies, the central government acted swiftly to address the issue, convening expert panels to assess procedural shortcomings.
On Monday, the Chinese government instituted national guidelines to improve food safety in schools, mandating rigorous testing of all new food batches. Additionally, Tianshui officials announced free medical care for affected children and legal support for their families, while Peixin Kindergarten will be temporarily managed by a state-run institution.
