Jerusalem supermarket chain fights closure over baby food anesthesia scandal

A Jerusalem court heard arguments Thursday over an administrative closure order imposed on two branches of a well-known supermarket chain after anesthetic and sedative substances were found in Prinoq baby puree. The hearing followed testimony already given to police by the relevant branch managers and the chain’s security chief. The company asked the court to ease the economic and reputational damage by limiting the order to the baby-food sections only, rather than closing the stores entirely.

The case began after several infants were hospitalized with unusual symptoms of lethargy, extreme weakness and exhaustion. Laboratory tests found benzodiazepines in their blood, drugs used as sedatives and anesthetics for adults. The suspicion is that the substances entered the baby puree sold at the chain. The company rejected the Health Ministry’s allegation that the source was inside its stores, and argued that contamination could have happened elsewhere, including in imported raw materials from the Czech Republic, during transport, or through sabotage by someone at a branch or with a grudge against the chain.

The chain also accused police and the Health Ministry of acting too late and then trying to shift responsibility onto it. Its lawyers said there was no evidentiary basis for the sweeping closure, noted that all baby-food sections were shut immediately after the order, and said that measure should remain in place until the investigation ends. State attorney Moti Greinik defended the closure, saying it was severe but lawful and necessary to protect public health. He also said the affected branches were operating without a business license.

Greinik said police opened an inquiry immediately after the first incident, but the case was not initially defined as a wider outbreak because that designation applies only when at least two infants are affected. The Health Ministry joined the investigation from the second incident onward, which helped connect the cases. Police later clarified that when they were first alerted in May, they informed the Health Ministry and held the suspect jar as evidence because they were not instructed to send it for lab testing. Only this week, after a possible link to the newer cases emerged, was the old sample sent for analysis. The case has now been transferred to the Zion district’s serious crime unit, and the court is expected to rule Friday on whether to cancel or narrow the closure order. Officials also said reports of similar contaminated Prinoq products in Holon have not been confirmed.