Israeli Health Ministry Finds Sedatives in Baby Food Jars, Police Probe Sabotage

Israel’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that laboratory tests confirmed sedatives in jars of Frinook fruit puree for babies, after three young children were rushed to Hadassah Ein Kerem in Jerusalem with sleepiness and weakness and traces of tranquilizers were found in their blood. The substances identified were clonazepam, sold as Klonex, and lorazepam, sold as Lorivan, both benzodiazepines intended for adults.

The ministry ordered immediate closure of two Jerusalem branches where the jars were bought, the Machane store at 113 Jaffa Street and another branch at 214 Jaffa Street, and the police assigned the case to the Zion District’s serious crime unit. Officials said there was no sign of a manufacturing defect or contamination at the factory, and that tests on products from the importer were normal, which means investigators are considering the possibility that the drugs were inserted later.

Police said they are using the Health Ministry’s findings as a basis for further investigation and that all leads are being checked. The ministry also told hospitals in the Jerusalem area to watch for infants and small children showing symptoms consistent with benzodiazepine exposure and to report similar cases from recent weeks. It stressed that there is no blanket recall of all Frinook products, only a warning against products bought in the closed branches or jars that do not appear sealed, match their usual color, smell and look, or lack the proper vacuum seal sound when opened.

Frinook importer Randi said a third party had maliciously introduced foreign substances into the product and repeated that manufacturing and importer tests were clean. The company said the brand has been sold for more than 20 years and urged consumers to check that jars are closed and undamaged before use. The three hospitalized children, including a one-year-old brother and sister and another girl, were discharged in good condition after a few days, and Hadassah said the case was uncovered thanks to the alertness of its staff.