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

A nursery owner in China, Li Huifang, has been sentenced to life in prison for poisoning over 200 children with lead-tainted food at her Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu province. The incident, which came to light in July 2025 after children fell ill with abnormally high blood lead levels, involved chefs using inedible paint to make meals appear more appealing. Li was convicted of producing and selling toxic and harmful food, and her personal assets were ordered confiscated. Five staff members also received prison sentences ranging from six to 15 years for following instructions to add toxic ingredients to the food.

The owner of a Chinese kindergarten, Li Huifang, has received a life sentence for her role in a lead paint poisoning scandal that affected over 200 children. This incident is described as the country's worst food safety scandal in nearly two decades. Six individuals were jailed on Friday by the Lanzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Gansu province for producing or distributing unsafe food. Li Huifang, owner of Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, was also fined 500,000 yuan. The kindergarten's principal, Zhu Jinglin, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.