In Tianshui city, Gansu Province, northwestern China, a private kindergarten named Peixin Kindergarten has been at the center of a major food safety scandal after 233 of 251 tested children were diagnosed with abnormally high blood lead levels. The poisoning occurred after kitchen staff used inedible painted pigments containing lead, specifically a yellow pigment known as lead chromate (chromium yellow), to decorate food items such as date cakes and corn rolls. The lead concentration in some food samples exceeded national food safety standards by up to 2,000 times. Symptoms among affected children included hair loss, tooth discoloration, and vomiting, with many still hospitalized. Authorities have detained eight individuals, including the kindergarten principal and investor, on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food. Two others have been released on bail pending trial. The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and raised concerns about food safety and local government transparency. Investigations revealed that the pigment was purchased online and diluted before use in food preparation. Some teachers at the kindergarten also tested positive for elevated blood lead levels, though adults showed less severe symptoms. The scandal has drawn comparisons to a similar lead poisoning event in Tianshui in 2006, with speculation about potential links to nearby industrial lead and zinc mining operations. Parents have reported difficulties obtaining reliable medical testing and treatment for their children, with discrepancies noted between local and external hospital blood lead level results. Authorities have been accused of obstructing families' efforts to seek treatment outside the region. The case highlights ongoing challenges in China's food safety regulation and enforcement, especially regarding the misuse of industrial chemicals as food additives.