A Chinese nursery owner and five staff members received prison sentences after poisoning hundreds of children with lead-tainted food.
A Chinese nursery owner faces life in prison after poisoning hundreds of children. Li Huifang operated the Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Gansu province.
Also, authorities found that kitchen staff poisoned over 200 students. The children suffered from high lead levels in their blood.
Next, investigators discovered that staff used inedible paint on school meals. They wanted to make the food look better to attract new students.
However, the paint packaging clearly warned that the substance was not safe for human use. The school ignored these warnings to improve appearances.
After that, the Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court handed down severe punishments. The court sentenced the nursery principal to 15 years in prison.
Meanwhile, four kitchen workers received jail sentences ranging from six to eight years. The court found that these staff members followed orders to use toxic ingredients.
Furthermore, tests showed lead levels were 2,000 times higher than safety limits. Children became ill after eating contaminated steamed cakes and sausage buns.
Still, the harm to these students remains a major concern for officials. The World Health Organization notes that lead causes severe damage to young brains.
Later, investigations revealed that some local officials tried to hide the truth. They tampered with medical records and accepted bribes from a nursery investor.
Finally, the government issued new national safety guidelines for school meals. Schools must now test food batches and buy supplies from approved sources only.