A Chinese kindergarten operator who poisoned 247 children by adding lead, a toxic heavy metal, to snacks to make them look more appetizing has been sentenced to life in prison.
Snacks Laced With Lead to Brighten Colors
The Intermediate People's Court in Lanzhou, Gansu province, handed down prison terms on the 16th to six people on charges of producing and selling harmful food in connection with the lead poisoning of 247 children at a kindergarten in Maiji district, Tianshui, according to Xinhua News Agency and the South China Morning Post on the 22nd.
The scheme was led by Li Huifang, the kindergarten's operator, and Zhu Jinglin, its executive principal. The two ordered the toxic substance to be added to food served to children and staff, saying they wanted to make the snacks more colorful and appetizing to promote the kindergarten.
The court sentenced Li to life imprisonment, stripped her of political rights for life and ordered the confiscation of 500,000 yuan ($70,000) in personal assets. Zhu received 15 years in prison and a fine of 300,000 yuan ($42,000).
Four kitchen employees who prepared the snacks on their instructions were each sentenced to six to eight years in prison and fined.
The case is considered the most serious food safety incident in China in the past two decades.
247 of 251 Children Tested Showed Elevated Lead
According to an investigation report released by Gansu province in July last year, the pastries in question had been served to children and staff every month beginning in May 2024.
Of 251 children tested, 247 showed blood lead levels above the normal range.
The affected children received hospital treatment or nutritional therapy at home. As of July 20, 2025, most had completed initial treatment and been discharged.
Clinical assessments by experts found that the children's blood lead levels fell by an average of 40.21% after treatment, meeting the intended therapeutic goal.
The fallout extended beyond the kindergarten staff. Gansu's disciplinary authorities opened investigations into 10 local officials, including the director of the provincial health commission and members of the Tianshui city leadership.
The provincial government said it would take responsibility for treatment and support until the affected children have fully recovered.
What do DRAM prices reveal about China's limits? Chinese memory maker CXMT signaled a third-quarter profit in the trillions of won, yet its shares fell nearly 8% in a single day. What the market focused on was not the headline profit but the growth rate, which slid from 113% to around 1%. We examine the reality of China's memory industry as the illusion created by rising DRAM prices fades, and what it means for South Korean chipmakers.
Hashtags: #SemiconductorTalk #CXMT #ChinaDRAM #DRAMPrices #SlowingGrowth #SamsungElectronics #SKhynix #NewsClip