233 Children suffer lead poisoning from inedible paint used in their meals

As parents, we often find ourselves going to great lengths to make vegetables appealing and lunchboxes fun. 

From smiley-faced fruit skewers to colourful pasta bowls, there’s no shortage of creativity when it comes to encouraging healthy eating. 

But a tragic incident in China has served as a sobering reminder that there’s a fine line between creative and careless - especially when food safety is compromised.

In a shocking case from north-west China, 233 children from a privately-run kindergarten were diagnosed with lead poisoning after staff used inedible paint to decorate steamed red date cake and corn sausage buns served at the school.

The decorative pigment, which was clearly marked as unsuitable for food, was purchased online and added to meals under the direction of the school principal.

CCTV footage revealed kitchen staff mixing the paint into food, reportedly to make it look more appealing. 

Tests later confirmed the food contained lead levels more than 2,000 times higher than the national safety limit. 

To put it into perspective, while the legal threshold in China is 0.5mg of lead per kilogram, the contaminated cakes and buns contained 1,052mg/kg and 1,340mg/kg respectively.

Following the discovery, eight individuals have been arrested, including the principal, who allegedly instructed staff to source the pigment online. 

Parents reported that the children began showing symptoms of illness since March.

Why lead is so dangerous - especially for children

Lead is a toxic metal that can accumulate in the body over time, and children are especially vulnerable. 

Even small amounts of lead are considered dangerous, which is why its use in paints, toys, and household materials has been heavily restricted or banned in many countries.

Prolonged exposure to lead can cause:

* Developmental delays

* Behavioural problems

* Learning difficulties

* Abdominal pain and fatigue

* In severe cases, neurological damage

IOL Lifestyle