Man Charged with Poisoning Baby Food Jars with Prescription Drugs

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against Yan Shamla, 41, from Beersheba, for allegedly introducing prescription drugs into jars of baby food and placing them on supermarket shelves in Jerusalem. As a result of his actions, five toddlers, including infants under one year old, were poisoned and hospitalized. The prosecution has requested that Shamla be held in custody until the legal proceedings against him are concluded.

According to the indictment, filed by attorney Moria Bayna Weissman, between May and June 2026, Shamla possessed benzodiazepine prescription drugs, which are prohibited for use by children without expert approval. The indictment states that on several occasions, he crushed pills and inserted them into "Prinoch" brand baby food jars, resealed them, and placed them on shelves in "Zol u'Vagadol" chain stores in Jerusalem for sale.

In one instance, Shamla allegedly placed two poisoned jars on a baby product shelf in a store on Jaffa Road, near the Mahane Yehuda market. Each jar contained the equivalent of about 17 prescription pills or more. A mother purchased one jar and later fed two of her young daughters, aged three and a half and eight months, from it. Both children collapsed and suffered from extreme confusion and weakness, requiring hospitalization for several days. Tests revealed severe benzodiazepine poisoning, ten times the maximum normal level.

In another incident, Shamla allegedly placed four poisoned jars on a baby product shelf in a different store on Jaffa Road, near the central bus station. Each of these jars also contained the equivalent of about 17 prescription pills or more. One jar was purchased, and three toddlers, aged three, 11 months, and three years, were fed from it. Within minutes, they began experiencing confusion, drowsiness, instability, and loss of muscle tone. All three were hospitalized with severe benzodiazepine poisoning.

Following these events, all of the company's baby food products were removed from the supermarket, and additional poisoned jars were found. Closure orders were issued for two branches of the chain due to public health concerns. Shamla is charged with multiple offenses, including using dangerous poison, assaulting a minor or helpless person, and attempted use of dangerous poison.