Man Charged With Poisoning Baby Food With Sedatives

Jerusalem District Court has received an indictment against 41-year-old Yan Shemla of Beersheba, accused of adding prescription sedatives to jars of baby food and placing them on supermarket shelves. Five young children, including infants under one year old, were hospitalized in serious condition after consuming the contaminated food. The indictment alleges that between May and June 2026, Shemla possessed benzodiazepine prescription drugs, which are prohibited for children without specialist approval. He allegedly crushed these pills and mixed them into "Prinoch" brand baby fruit puree jars before resealing and stocking them in "Zol Be'Gadol" chain supermarkets in Jerusalem. In one instance, two tainted jars were placed on a shelf near the Mahane Yehuda market. Each jar reportedly contained enough medication equivalent to over 17 pills. A mother purchased one jar, and her 12-year-old daughter fed it to her two younger sisters, aged three and a half and eight months. Both children became severely weak and disoriented, requiring hospitalization for several days with benzodiazepine poisoning ten times the normal maximum concentration. In another incident, Shemla allegedly placed four contaminated jars in a store near the Jerusalem Central Bus Station. One jar from this batch was purchased and given to three children, aged three, eleven months, and three. They soon exhibited confusion, drowsiness, poor coordination, and loss of muscle tone, also requiring hospitalization for severe benzodiazepine poisoning. Following these events, all puree from the affected manufacturer was removed from shelves, and additional contaminated jars were found. Two stores were ordered closed due to public health concerns. Shemla faces charges including using a dangerous poison, assault on a minor or helpless person, attempted use of a dangerous poison, attempted assault on a minor or helpless person, and theft. The prosecution has not stated a motive. Earlier reports indicated Shemla claimed he was being poisoned and retaliated. He reportedly told investigators he was "hunted for a long time" and acted as he saw fit. In June, three infants hospitalized were found to have traces of clonazepam and lorazepam in their blood after consuming "Prinoch" puree purchased from "Zol Be'Gadol" stores. Inspections revealed some jars had been previously opened.