More than 200 children in China have suffered lead poisoning after consuming food to which kindergarten staff had added toxic paint, reports AP News.
“In July 2025, more than 200 students and over 20 staff members at the school were found to have abnormally high levels of lead in their blood,” the report states.
The kindergarten’s owner, Li Huifang, and its executive director, Zhu Jinglin, have been arrested. An investigation revealed that they had ordered staff to add toxic and harmful substances to the food to make the dishes look “more attractive.”
The court sentenced Li Huifang to life imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of $75,000 worth of her assets. Zhu Jinglin was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Four kitchen workers who carried out the addition of the paint were also sentenced to prison terms.
Medical professionals are currently monitoring the children’s condition; lead poisoning can cause serious damage to the brain and nervous system, AP News adds.
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