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Mass Lead Poisoning in Chinese Daycare Center
In Tianshui, Gansu province, 201 children have been hospitalized with lead poisoning after consuming food contaminated with industrial pigments at their daycare facility. Authorities arrested eight individuals, including the center's director, following the discovery that kitchen staff used online-purchased paint pigments in meal preparation.
Severe Symptoms and Contamination Levels
Children exhibited alarming symptoms including stomach pain, leg discomfort, appetite loss, hair loss, and blackened teeth. Laboratory tests revealed shocking lead levels - over 2000 times China's safety limit - in popular snacks like red date cakes and sausage buns served at the facility which opened in 2022 and serves 251 children.
China's Ongoing Food Safety Crisis
This incident highlights China's persistent food safety challenges, reminiscent of the 2008 melamine milk scandal that sickened 300,000 infants. Despite recent EU-China collaborations to improve standards and new 2024 education ministry guidelines requiring school administrators to eat student meals, enforcement remains inconsistent.
Accountability and Public Outrage
Food scandals involving children provoke intense public anger in China. The daycare's private status complicates regulatory response, but authorities face pressure to demonstrate accountability. Previous incidents like spoiled pork in Kunming schools reveal systemic issues including improper storage and cost-cutting through substandard ingredients.
