Over 200 minor patients hospitalized due to lead contamination in their food, a worrying incident in China.
In northwest China's Gansu province, more than 200 children from a kindergarten have been hospitalised due to lead poisoning, a rare but alarming incident that underscores ongoing challenges with food safety in the country.
The outbreak occurred in July 2025, when investigations revealed that the school had added paint containing lead to their food to make it more colourful. This resulted in elevated lead levels in several food items, with the three-color steamed date cakes containing 1,052 mg/kg and the corn rolls 1,340 mg/kg of lead – far exceeding the national limit for lead in wheat and starch products, which stands at 0.5 mg/kg.
Regulations in China maintain strict limits on lead concentrations in food, reflecting the country's ongoing efforts to address food safety issues that have previously caused public health crises. However, the recent incident highlighted the importance of enforcement and vigilance to prevent such incidents.
Upon inspection, authorities found remnants of hidden substances in the kitchen. It was discovered that the kitchen staff, with the approval of the operator, had purchased paint online for food preparation. Eight suspects, including the kindergarten operator and an investor, have been detained by police.
The local government expressed regret for the incident and promised to draw lessons from it. Two individuals were released on bail pending trial. The heavy metal was found to interfere with the production of red blood cells, affecting the brain, nervous system, blood, and digestive organs. Abnormal lead levels were found in the blood of 233 of the tested children.
The local government also expressed concern and offered support to the affected families. The World Health Organization emphasizes that no level of lead exposure is safe, especially for children, underscoring the importance of these controls.
In response to the incident, the authorities have taken decisive action, including detaining those responsible. The case serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and enforcement to ensure the safety of food products in China.
- The alarming incident in Gansu province, where more than 200 children were hospitalized due to lead poisoning, highlights the significance of maintaining vigilance and enforcement in addressing chronic diseases related to food safety, such as medical-conditions caused by exposure to lead.
- In the aftermath of the incident, the authorities have emphasized the importance of health-and-wellness regulations, especially those concerning lead concentrations in food, as elevated lead levels have been linked to interferences with red blood cell production and potential damage to the brain, nervous system, blood, and digestive organs.
- The recent case in northwest China underscores the need for fitness-and-exercise programs to promote overall health-and-wellness, as proper nutrition and avoidance of toxic substances like lead are crucial for supporting physical and mental health.
- In sharing resources and expertise, organizations like the World Health Organization can contribute to the prevention of incidents like the lead poisoning case in Gansu, as they promote awareness about the dangers of lead exposure, especially for children, and advocate for stricter food safety regulations and enforcement worldwide.
