Nursery owner in China jailed for life after hundreds of children poisoned

What the report says

A nursery owner in northwestern China has been sentenced to life in prison after a court found that lead-tainted food at her kindergarten poisoned hundreds of children and staff. BBC World News reported that Li Huifang, who ran the Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu province, was convicted of producing and selling toxic and harmful food, while five staff members also received jail terms.

According to the article, the case came to light in July 2025 after children began falling ill and tests found abnormally high blood lead levels in 247 pupils and staff. Investigators said kitchen workers had used inedible paint in meals to make food look more appealing and attract more students. The court also found that the paint and other ingredients were added on instruction from Li and the nursery’s executive principal, Zhi Jinglin.

State media said food samples contained lead far above China’s safety limit, with some items reported at levels many times over the legal threshold. The court ordered the confiscation of Li’s assets, and officials said other staff members received prison sentences of six to eight years.

The BBC also reported that the incident prompted wider scrutiny of food safety oversight and attempts by some officials and hospital staff to conceal parts of the case. In response, China has since issued new campus meal guidelines, including tighter testing and centralized food purchasing rules.