Kindergarten accused of serving rotten vegetables to kids

Chongqing (ECNS) -- Several hundred parents gathered in front of a kindergarten in Chongqing on Wednesday, demanding an explanation for why the school had prepared meals for the children with bad fruits and vegetables.

Li Xiaohong, a mother with a child at the kindergarten, told Chinanews.com that a large number of rotten vegetables and fruits had been found in the school's kitchen.

"I saw rotten vegetables being processed by kitchen staff this morning as I took my kids to school," said Li.

Mildew stains were found on carrots, tomatoes were rotten and putrid liquid came out of them, according to Li.

Located at the only public rental housing community in the city, the private kindergarten named "Dang Dang" has 400 students.

Many parents said their children had been suffering from nausea and dysentery, which might be linked to meals cooked at the kindergarten.

A mother named Yi Xue said her daughter had gotten enteritis and had been receiving transfusion treatment for 10 days.

"It must be the rotten food that contributed to her illness," said Yi.

Liu Xiaoli, president of the kindergarten, denied the speculations, saying the rotten vegetables had not been prepared for students.

"These vegetables being collected were about to be thrown away," said Liu, adding that the problematic food had been sent to the local food and drug administration for testing, and that the school would announce the results soon.

A spokesperson from the district government of the city's North New Area, in which the kindergarten is located, said local policymakers are closely following the case.

The kindergarten has been ordered to carry out health checks for all of its students, and a further investigation is still underway, the spokesperson added.