Chinese nursery owner jailed for life after poisoning 247 children
The owner of a Chinese kindergarten was sentenced to life in prison after staff deliberately used inedible paint on food, causing 247 children and staff to develop high blood lead levels.
Li Huifang ran the Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Gansu province. She was sentenced to life after chefs used industrial paint marked as inedible to enhance meal appearance.
In July 2025, 247 pupils and staff were found with abnormally high blood lead levels. Food samples contained lead 2,000 times above China's safety limit.
Red date cakes had 1,052 mg/kg of lead; corn sausage rolls had 1,340 mg/kg. The standard limit is 0.5 mg/kg.
The executive principal received 15 years. Four kitchen staff received sentences of 6 to 8 years.
Lead poisoning can severely damage the brain and nervous system in young children. Investigation also uncovered a cover-up: officials and hospital staff tampered with blood tests and accepted bribes.
- 247
- Children and staff poisoned
- 2,000 times
- Lead exceeded safety limit by
- 1,052 mg/kg
- Red date cake lead level
- life in prison
- Owner's sentence
Why it mattersExposes critical failures in food safety oversight and governance, raising concerns about accountability in institutional feeding.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, though highlights risks in food production chains where regulatory oversight is weak.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
