Chinese kindergarten operator given life in prison after 200 pupils poisoned with lead
A kindergarten operator in Northwest China has been sentenced to life in prison after more than 200 children and dozens of staff members were poisoned with lead from toxic paint added to school meals. Li Huifang, the de facto operator of Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city's Maiji district, received a life sentence along with the confiscation of 500,000 yuan of personal assets for producing and selling toxic and harmful food. Five additional staff members received prison terms ranging from six to 15 years for their roles in serving the tainted food.
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- ✓ Li Huifang, the de facto operator of Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city's Maiji district, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday.
- ✓ More than 200 children and over 20 staff were found with abnormally high levels of lead in their blood.
- ✓ Zhu Jinglin, the kindergarten's executive principal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 300,000 yuan.
- ✓ Four kitchen staff members received prison terms ranging from six to eight years along with fines.
What changed
The Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court handed down prison sentences ranging from six years to life for the kindergarten operator and five staff members.
Live updates
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Chinese Kindergarten Operator Sentenced to Life for Lead Poisoning
A kindergarten operator in Northwest China has been sentenced to life in prison after more than 200 children and dozens of staff members were poisoned with lead from toxic paint added to school meals. Li Huifang, the de facto operator of Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city's Maiji district, received a life sentence along with the confiscation of 500,000 yuan of personal assets for producing and selling toxic and harmful food. Five additional staff members received prison terms ranging from six to 15 years for their roles in serving the tainted food.
Why it matters
The convictions follow an investigation launched after tests revealed abnormally high levels of lead in the blood of 233 children at the kindergarten in July 2025. Kindergarten bosses instructed kitchen staff to use inedible paint in school meals to make the food look more appealing and entice children to eat. The case highlights severe violations of national food safety regulations within educational facilities.
What is confirmed
- Li Huifang, the de facto operator of Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city's Maiji district, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday.
- More than 200 children and over 20 staff were found with abnormally high levels of lead in their blood.
- Zhu Jinglin, the kindergarten's executive principal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 300,000 yuan.
- Four kitchen staff members received prison terms ranging from six to eight years along with fines.
What to watch next
- Potential appeals by the sentenced kindergarten operator and staff members.
- Further regulatory inspections or crackdowns on food safety compliance in Chinese kindergartens.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (12)
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- South China Morning Post — Chinese kindergarten owner given life sentence over lead paint poisoning scandal
- BBC — Nursery owner in China jailed for life after hundreds of children poisoned
- People.com — Kindergarten Owner, Kitchen Staff Sentenced After Poisoning More Than 200 Children at School
- The Independent — Chinese kindergarten operator given life in prison after 200 pupils poisoned with lead
- WKRC — Lead paint in school food: Kindergarten owner receives life sentence after 200+ sickened
- www.independent.co.uk — Chinese kindergarten operator given life in prison after ...
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- www.chinadaily.com.cn — Gansu kindergarten operator sentenced to life in lead ...
- www.bbc.com — Nursery owner in China jailed for life after hundreds of ...
- www.mirror.co.uk — Heshi Peixin Kindergarten operator jailed for life after more ...
- mothership.sg — Kindergarten operator in China jailed for life after more ...
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