A court in China sentenced a kindergarten operator to life in prison on Friday in the Gansu lead poisoning sentencing, the harshest punishment handed down in a case that sickened more than 200 children with lead-tainted food, according to the Associated Press. Five other defendants, including the school’s executive principal and four kitchen staff members, also received prison terms from the Lanzhou Intermediate People’s Court.
Li Huifang, who operated Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui, in China’s Gansu province, received the life sentence and had 500,000 yuan, about $75,000, in personal assets confiscated, the AP reported. Zhu Jinglin, the school’s executive principal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 300,000 yuan, roughly $44,800. The four kitchen staff members involved received prison terms ranging from six to eight years.
What Happened At The Kindergarten
The case centers on food served to children at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten that contained inedible lead-containing pigments, added to make the dishes more visually appealing, according to the AP. In July 2025, testing found more than 200 students and over 20 staff members at the school with abnormally high blood lead levels.
Lead exposure at high levels can damage a child’s brain and nervous system, according to the AP.
Court Findings And Sentences
The Lanzhou Intermediate People’s Court issued sentences for all six defendants on Oct. 16. Li received the most severe punishment as the kindergarten’s operator, while Zhu’s 15-year term reflected her role as executive principal. The four kitchen staff members were also convicted in connection with the contaminated food.
What It Means And What’s Next
The sentences resolve the criminal case against the six people charged in connection with the poisoning, according to the AP. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported the court’s rulings Friday, but neither outlet indicated whether any defendants would appeal.
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