More than 200 children at a kindergarten have unusually high blood lead levels after the school added colorants to their food, Chinese authorities said on July 8.
Chinese media reported that Boi Tin Kindergarten, in Mach Co District, Thien Thuy City, Cam Tuc Province, has added coloring powder to food to attract students' attention and increase revenue.
Chinese state media also broadcast excerpts from surveillance cameras in the kitchen showing employees adding colorants to food.
Regarding the incident, 8 people, including the principal, were arrested for suspected production of toxic and harmful foods, while 2 others were released on bail pending trial.
According to the report of the joint investigation team, on the evening of July 1, the Market Supervision Agency and the Mach Co District Police Department received a report about some children at the above kindergarten having unusual lead levels in their blood. After that, these two agencies immediately conducted an investigation.
As of 10:00 p.m. on July 7, all 251 children at the kindergarten had completed the health check-up process.
According to blood lead concentration standards, 233 children were found to have unusually high lead levels, 18 children had lead levels within normal range.
The results of the sampling and testing of Vi Bac, Tu Ai and Mong De Ai kindergartens are all from the same investor as Boi Tin school, all of which gave normal results.
The competent authorities have established a group of experts to implement medical treatment.
Of the 223 food samples tested, 221 were standard, 2 from Boi Tin School were found to be substandard, including a 3-color red apple sponge cake for breakfast and a corn sausage roll for dinner, with lead content of 1,052 milligrams/kilogram and 1,340 milligrams/kilogram, respectively, exceeding the national food safety standard limit of 0.5 milligrams/kilogram for food pollutants.
The investigation shows that the principals of Boi Tin Kindergarten, surnamed Chu and the investor, surnamed Li, agreed to let the kitchen staff buy coloring powder through online platforms and use diluted coloring powder in the food production process.
A parent surnamed Liu expressed concern about the long-term effects of lead poisoning on his son's liver and digestive system and took his child to the hospital for testing last week after being warned by other parents. Currently, Mr. Liu's son needs treatment and medication for 10 days.
It is not yet clear how long the pigments are allowed to be in food, but some parents share with Chinese state media that their children have shown signs of abdominal pain, leg pain and loss of appetite since March.
The World Health Organization said that exposure to lead is especially harmful to young children, which affects the development of the central nervous system. No lead exposure level is determined to be completely harmless, the World Health Organization notes.
