Chinese kindergarten uses paint to color food, high levels of lead found in 233 children

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

食べ物の着色に塗料を使用、園児２３３人から高濃度の鉛検出　中国幼稚園

2025.07.09 Wed posted at 19:00 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 中国甘粛省天水市の私立幼稚園で、給食の着色に絵の具の顔料が使われた結果、園児２３３人の血液から基準を超える鉛が検出された。当局が８日に発表した。食品安全問題が絶えない中国で強い非難が巻き起こっている。

中国国営中央テレビ（ＣＣＴＶ）が伝えた市政府の報告書によれば、園長ら８人が有毒で有害な食品を製造した疑いで拘束された。報告書によれば、園長と出資者は、給食の職員に対し、食べ物に絵の具の顔料を使って着色することを認めており、これが汚染につながった。入園児を増やして収益を拡大するのが目的だったという。

園児２５１人のうち２３３人の血中鉛濃度が異常値なことが判明した。園児は治療を受けており、２０１人が入院している。当局は長期的な影響の医学的評価をまだ公表していない。

地元メディアは小児科教授の見方として、３カ月以上にわたる慢性的な鉛中毒の可能性を示唆した。

調査では、朝食用の蒸しケーキなど二つの食品から国家基準の２０００倍を超える濃度の鉛が検出された。塗料の入ったバケツは当局に押収された。バケツには食用ではないことを明示したラベルが貼られていたという。

当局は１日、血中鉛濃度が異常値を示しているとの報告を受けて調査を開始した。園児の鉛への暴露は脳の発達や行動、ＩＱに影響を及ぼすなど深刻な結果をもたらす可能性がある。

報告書には暴露がどのくらいの期間続いていたのかは明らかにされていないが、国名メディアの取材を受けた親の中には、何カ月も前から子どもたちの健康状態や行動に異常な兆候があったと語る人もいた。

食品をめぐるスキャンダルは過去にもあった。最も悪質な事例の一つは、２００８年に有害な工業用の化学物質メラニン混入した粉ミルクによって乳児６人が死亡したほか、約３０万人が健康被害を受けたもの。責任があるとされた製造業者幹部には死刑が言い渡された。この事件は中国における国産の食品の安全性に対して深い不信感を生んだ。

Translation

Chinese kindergarten uses paint to color food, high levels of lead found in 233 children

2025.07.09 Wed posted at 19:00 JST

Hong Kong (CNN) -  A private kindergarten in Tianshui city in Gansu Province of China used paint pigments to color school lunches that resulted in the detection of lead levels exceeding the standard in the blood of 233 children. Authorities announced this on the 8th. In China, where food safety issues were endless, strong criticism were swirling

According to a city government report carried by China Central Television (CCTV), the principal and eight others were arrested on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food. According to the report, the principal and investor allowed the school lunch staff to use paint pigments to color food, which led to the contamination. The purpose was to increase enrollment and increase profits.

233 of the 251 children were found to have abnormal lead levels in blood. The children were receiving treatment, and 201 were hospitalized. Authorities had yet to release a medical evaluation of the long-term effects.

Local media cited a pediatrics professor as suggesting the possibility of chronic lead poisoning over three months.

An investigation found that two foods, including a steamed cake for breakfast, contained lead at levels 2,000 times higher than the national standard. The paint buckets were confiscated by authorities. The buckets were reportedly labeled as not edible.

Authorities began an investigation on the 1st after receiving a report that blood lead levels were abnormal. Exposure to lead in kindergarten children could have serious consequences, it affected brain development, behavior and IQ.

The report did not say how long the exposure lasted, but some parents interviewed by the national media said they had seen abnormal signs in their children's health and behavior for months.

There were food scandals before. In one of the most egregious cases, six babies died and about 300,000 others suffered from health problems in 2008 after milk powder was contaminated with the toxic industrial chemical melanin. The company executives found responsible were given the death penalty. The case had created deep distrust in China about the safety of domestically produced food.

So, a private kindergarten in China used painting material to color school lunches, resulting in the detection of lead levels exceeding the standard in the blood of 233 children. There was food scandals in China before. In 2008 six babies died and about 300,000 others suffered health problems after milk powder was contaminated with the toxic industrial chemical melanin. Apparently, there is room for improvement in ensuring food safety in China.