Man Indicted for Poisoning Baby Food with Prescription Drugs

Prosecutors in Jerusalem have indicted Yan Shamla, 41, from Beersheba, for allegedly tampering with jars of baby food by crushing prescription benzodiazepine pills and inserting them into the product before placing the jars on supermarket shelves. The indictment, filed in the Jerusalem District Court, details how Shamla committed these acts in May and June 2026 at branches of the 'Zol u'Vagadol' supermarket chain in Jerusalem.

Shamla allegedly placed at least six contaminated jars on store shelves. In one incident, a mother purchased two jars and fed the contents to her daughters, aged three and a half years and eight months. Both infants suffered severe poisoning, exhibiting confusion and extreme weakness, and were hospitalized for several days. Tests revealed benzodiazepine poisoning at levels ten times the maximum normal range.

In another incident, Shamla placed four contaminated jars on a shelf. Three toddlers, aged three years, 11 months, and three years, consumed the tainted food from one of these jars. They also experienced confusion, drowsiness, instability, and loss of muscle tone, requiring hospitalization for severe benzodiazepine poisoning.

Following the incidents, all baby food products from the company were collected from the supermarket, and additional poisoned jars were discovered. Two branches of the supermarket chain were temporarily closed due to public health concerns. The indictment charges Shamla with multiple offenses, including using dangerous poison, assaulting a minor or helpless person, and attempted use of poison.

Moriyah Bayna Weissman, the prosecutor, emphasized the severity of the crimes, noting that the victims were very young children, the youngest being only eight months old, who were harmed by food intended for them. She stated that the attacks on children of this age, using a basic food product, amplify the gravity of the alleged offenses.