The owner of a daycare center in Tianshui, northern China, was sentenced to life in prison after food served to children and staff was found to contain lead-based paint. A court found that owner Li Huifang and director Zhi Jinglin had instructed kitchen staff to use the paint to make steamed date cakes and cornbread with sausage look more appealing. Tests in July found elevated lead levels in 247 children and staff who had fallen ill; the food contained lead at up to 2,000 times the permitted level.

Zhi was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined the equivalent of about €40,000, while Li's assets worth about €67,000 were seized. Four other employees who knew the paint was harmful received prison terms of six to eight years. A single report said authorities are considering whether provincial officials and hospital staff should face prosecution over an alleged attempt to conceal the incident by manipulating blood tests and taking bribes.