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On October 16, 2026, the Lanzhou Intermediate People's Court in Gansu Province handed down its first-instance verdict in the case involving the Tianshui Peixin Kindergarten lead poisoning incident.

⚖️ Convictions and Sentences

The court convicted six defendants of the crime of "producing and selling toxic and harmful food." The sentences are as follows:

  • Li Huifang (李慧芳), the actual person in charge of the kindergarten: Life imprisonment, lifetime deprivation of political rights, and confiscation of personal property worth 500,000 yuan.
  • Zhu Jinglin (朱敬琳), the executive principal: 15 years in prison and a fine of 300,000 yuan.
  • Niu Aiyuan, Wen Yafang, He Xuxia, and An Chunling, four kitchen staff members: prison terms ranging from 8 to 6 years, along with fines.

📋 Court Findings

The court found that Li Huifang and Zhu Jinglin, as kindergarten administrators, violated national food safety regulations. They instructed the kitchen staff to mix toxic and harmful non-food raw materials into the food produced and sold at the kindergarten, which was then consumed by children and staff, causing serious adverse consequences. The court ruled that the circumstances of the crime were especially serious, and the sentences were handed down based on the facts, nature, circumstances, and social harm of each defendant's actions.

🏫 Case Background

The incident involved the Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Maiji District, Tianshui City. Investigations revealed that the kindergarten's principal and investor had agreed to purchase inedible paint pigment online, dilute it, and use it in food preparation in an attempt to expand enrollment and increase profits. This led to 233 out of 251 children testing positive for abnormal blood lead levels.