甘肅天水幼兒園血鉛超標事件調查：233名幼童受害，違規添加劑黑幕曝光

近期甘肅省天水市麥積區褐石培心幼兒園爆出震驚全中國的食品安全醜聞。官方調查確認，該幼兒園長期違規使用含鉛添加劑，導致高達233名在園幼兒出現血鉛指標異常，其中數十名兒童血鉛值更超過國際安全標準上限的五倍（250μg/L）。事件曝光後，園長等8名涉案人員被刑事拘留，引發社會各界對校園食品安全的廣泛關注與質疑。

事情的起點源於家長對孩子健康的直覺。部分家長陸續發現孩子出現食慾不振、腹瀉腹痛、情緒不穩、注意力不集中與發育遲緩等異常，但多數人最初以為是普通腸胃疾病。一名家長帶孩子檢測微量元素，意外發現血鉛值高達289μg/L（世界衛生組織建議兒童血鉛應低於50μg/L），才引起警覺。隨後家長自發展開群體檢測。許多人血鉛超標，屬於重度鉛中毒。一段家長拍攝的會議視頻中，麥積區衛健委負責人證實，幼兒園自製糕點中的三色棗發糕與玉米腸卷檢出含鉛添加劑，目前已送往省級實驗室複檢。

進一步調查顯示，該幼兒園在食品製作中為節省成本，形成系統性的違規行為。首先，糕點與玉米腸卷中使用來自非正規渠道的工業級硫酸鈣，這種原料含有鉛與砷等重金屬雜質，而其價格僅為食品級添加劑的三分之一。為讓食物外觀更吸引兒童，廚師長還長期超量使用已被禁用的化學色素「檸檬黃」，其成分中含有鉛鉻酸鹽。每日提供的豆漿則是使用劣質黃豆，常含有對肝臟有害的黃麴黴素。

鉛是一種強烈的神經毒素，對發育中的兒童尤其危險。至今已確認有多名重度中毒幼童需住院進行排鉛治療，另有其他幼童出現貧血與腎功能異常。研究顯示，血鉛濃度每升高100μg/L，智力商數（IQ）平均下降6至8分，患有注意力缺陷的風險增加三倍，成年後罹患心血管疾病的概率也明顯上升。事件爆發後，有8人被刑拘，罪名包括「生產銷售有毒有害食品罪」、「玩忽職守罪」、「重大責任事故罪」遭到追訴。同時，中國政府展開全省幼兒園食安整頓行動，除設立專項基金承擔受害幼兒的醫療費用外，還規定所有幼兒園廚房必須強制安裝並上傳廚房監控系統，嚴禁自製糕點、香腸等高風險食品。

當鉛毒開始侵蝕一整個世代的未來，不能只依賴事後追責，更需從制度層面徹底改革。唯有建立「食品安全一票否決制」、設立兒童血鉛普查制度與立法強化食品追溯體系，才能真正築起保護幼兒的食品防線，避免下一次悲劇重演。孩子的健康，不該再被「節省成本」所犧牲。

Investigation into the Lead Poisoning Scandal at a Kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu: 233 Children Affected, Illicit Use of Additives Exposed

A shocking food safety scandal recently emerged from Heshishi Peixin Kindergarten in Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, drawing national attention across China. An official investigation confirmed that the kindergarten had long been using additives containing lead in violation of food safety regulations. As a result, 233 children enrolled at the school were found to have abnormal blood lead levels, with dozens of them exceeding the international safety threshold by more than five times (250 μg/L). Following the incident’s exposure, eight individuals—including the kindergarten’s principal—were taken into criminal custody, triggering a wave of public concern and scrutiny over campus food safety.

Uncovering the Scandal: A Parent’s Intuition Unveils the Truth

The incident came to light thanks to parents’ instincts about their children’s health. Starting in early 2023, many parents noticed unusual symptoms in their children—loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, mood instability, difficulty concentrating, and stunted growth. Initially, most believed these were ordinary digestive issues. It wasn’t until one parent, who worked in a hospital, decided to conduct a trace elements test for their child that the alarm was raised: the child’s blood lead level was a staggering 289 μg/L (WHO recommends levels below 50 μg/L for children).

In response, parents collectively arranged mass testing. Many of the tested children had dangerously high levels of lead, indicating severe poisoning. In a video recorded at a parent meeting, a representative from the Maiji District Health Commission confirmed that lead-containing additives were found in the kindergarten’s homemade snacks—specifically the tricolor jujube cake and corn sausage rolls. The contaminated food samples were sent to a provincial lab for further testing.

Investigation Findings: The Deadly Cost-Cutting Behind the Kitchen

The investigation revealed a systematic pattern of illegal practices rooted in cost-cutting motives. First, industrial-grade calcium sulfate—purchased from unauthorized suppliers—was used in making pastries and corn sausage rolls. This substance is known to contain harmful heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, but it costs only one-third the price of food-grade additives. To make food appear more visually appealing to children, the head chef also consistently used banned chemical dyes, including "lemon yellow," which contains lead chromate compounds. In addition, the soy milk served daily was made from low-quality soybeans often contaminated with aflatoxins, which are toxic to the liver.

Grave Consequences: Lead Poisoning and Its Lifelong Effects

Lead is a potent neurotoxin, especially harmful to developing children. Several severely affected children have already been hospitalized for chelation therapy to remove lead from their bodies. Others were found to have anemia and abnormal kidney function. Research shows that for every 100 μg/L increase in blood lead levels, a child’s IQ can drop by 6 to 8 points. Furthermore, the risk of developing attention deficit disorders triples, and the likelihood of cardiovascular disease in adulthood increases significantly.

Response and Accountability: Criminal Charges and Industry-Wide Crackdown

Following the exposure, eight individuals were arrested and charged with crimes such as "producing and selling toxic and harmful food," "dereliction of duty," and "major liability accidents." In parallel, the Chinese government launched a province-wide rectification campaign for food safety in kindergartens. Measures include establishing a special fund to cover medical expenses for the affected children, mandating the installation and cloud-uploading of kitchen surveillance systems in all kindergartens, and banning the production of high-risk homemade foods like pastries and sausages on school premises.

Conclusion: Using the Rule of Law to Protect the Next Generation

When lead poisoning begins to erode the health and future of an entire generation, post-crisis accountability is no longer enough. Systemic reform is urgently needed. Only through the implementation of a strict "one-strike food safety disqualification system," the establishment of a national childhood blood lead screening program, and legislation to enforce full traceability of campus food sources can we build a true defensive line to safeguard children. The health of our children must never again be sacrificed in the name of "cost-saving."