Three out of danger in kindergarten food poisoning

A child showing symptoms of possible food poisoning receives medical treatment in hospital in Qiubei County, Wenshan Zhuang-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province, March 20, 2014. (Xinhua)

All five children left on the verge of death by a food poisoning in a kindergarten in southwest China's Yunnan province this week are now out of danger, local authorities said on Friday.

With two of the five pupils of Jiajia Kindergarten in Pinglong village, Qiubei county, already pulled from critical status on Thursday, they are now joined by the other three in the general wards of the Qiubei County People's Hospital.

Thirty-two children showed symptoms of food poisoning on Wednesday afternoon. Of the seven who entered critical conditions, two girls, aged four and five, died after medical treatment failed.

Tetramine, a banned neurotoxic rat poison, was to blame for the incident, local authorities said on Thursday.

Investigators found the toxic substance in snacks brought to Jiajia Kindergarten by a student who shared the food with other children, said Zhao Minjian, an official in charge of media communication with the Qiubei County Government.

Specimen checks showed school meals were safe, said Zhao.

The case is under further investigation.