Two more fruit puree cases found as police investigate tainted baby food

The investigation into contaminated baby fruit puree is continuing, with News 13 reporting two new cases on Thursday, one in Holon and one in the Bik'at HaYarden area. Police are now checking whether those cases are connected to the earlier incidents, while store owners where the suspected "Prino" jars were found have been questioned and warehouse workers have given statements to help trace the source of the substances.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry said laboratory tests found Klonex and Lorivan, the brand names of clonazepam and lorazepam, in jars of Prino fruit puree for babies sold at two branches of the Zol VeBegadol chain in Jerusalem. The products were bought at the "Machane" branch on 113 Jaffa Street and another branch on 214 Jaffa Street, and both stores were ordered shut.

Police said the Jerusalem District commander assigned the case to the Zion subdistrict’s serious crime unit because of "the utmost sensitivity regarding the welfare of minors." Officers have begun open and covert investigative steps to identify the source of the sedative substances and how they were introduced into the products, and all leads are being examined.

Importer Randy said there was no sign of a manufacturing defect or contamination at the factory, that all tests on products from the importer were normal, and that the Health Ministry had said the products were safe for consumers and could continue to be sold. The company said a third party must have deliberately introduced the foreign substances and urged customers to check that jars are sealed, intact, and undamaged before use.

The Health Ministry again urged parents whose children ate the product to watch for drowsiness, exhaustion, or confused speech, to contact a doctor and call the ministry hotline at 5400. It also warned not to consume products bought at the two Jerusalem branches, items not sold in their original packaging, or jars with unusual color, appearance, smell, or a faulty vacuum seal. Prof. Saar Hatavshia of Hadassah Ein Kerem said benzodiazepine poisonings can be life-threatening and that this cluster was unusual because several children were affected at once and no access to prescription drugs appeared likely in their homes.