MORE than 200 children were hospitalized due to lead poisoning after consuming food decorated with inedible paint at a kindergarten in Tianshui City, Gansu province.

According to local health officials, tests showed that food samples taken from Peixin Kindergarten had lead levels exceeding the national safety limit by 2,000 times. The contaminated items included steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns served to the children.

A BBC report said that 233 children were found to have elevated lead levels in their blood following the incident. The children are currently receiving medical treatment in local hospitals.

Eight individuals, including those responsible for food preparation at the school, have been arrested as authorities continue to investigate how the inedible paint was used in preparing the food.

Officials have vowed to strengthen food safety measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.(Hilary Natalie Berongoy)

• Tags
• #China
• #Food Poisoning
• #Children
• #Lead Poisoning
• #Tianshui City
• #Gansu
• #Peixin Kindergarten
• #Steamed Red Date Cakes
• #Inedible paint