233 Chinese Children Poisoned After Pre-school Chefs Used inedible paint to decorate their food

Source: Africa Publicity

At least 233 pre-school children have been hospitalized with lead poisoning in north-west China after their school’s chefs reportedly used inedible paint to decorate their food.

Local media reports say eight individuals have been arrested after tests showed the food samples from a kindergarten in Tianshui City in Gansu province had lead levels that were 2,000 times over the national safety limit.

The 233 children who suffered the poisoning are from Peixin Kindergarten.

Reports say the children had high levels of lead in their blood after eating steamed red date cake and sausage corn bun.

A statement issued by Chinese police said the school principal asked the kitchen staff to buy the paint online.

The said after the children fell ill, officers had to search for the supplies which had been hidden, disclosing that

the paint was clearly marked as inedible.

According to the statement, investigators found that the red date cake and the corn sausage rolls had lead levels of 1052mg/kg and 1340mg/kg respectively which both exceed the national food safety standard limit of 0.5mg/kg.

The principal of the privately-run kindergarten and seven others, including its main investor, will now be investigated on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food, the statement noted.