Man Charged with Poisoning Baby Food in Israel

A 40-year-old resident of Beersheba, Yan Shamli, has been indicted for intentionally poisoning baby food from the popular "Prinoch" brand. The investigation revealed that five young children, including infants under one year old, required hospitalization in intensive care units due to his actions. The prosecution has requested that Shamli be held in custody until the trial concludes.

According to investigators, between May and June 2026, Shamli possessed prescription benzodiazepine medications. He allegedly stole jars of baby food from stores, crushed the pills, mixed them into the puree, resealed the jars, and returned them to store shelves at branches of the Israeli supermarket chain "Zol VeGadol" in Jerusalem. The concentration of the drug in some jars was equivalent to seventeen or more potent pills.

One incident involved a mother who fed the contaminated food to her three daughters, aged twelve, three and a half, and eight months. The younger girls lost consciousness and exhibited severe weakness and confusion, necessitating emergency hospitalization and intensive care. A similar event occurred when parents fed poisoned puree to three of their children purchased near Jerusalem's Central Bus Station, leading to their loss of consciousness and hospitalization.

Law enforcement identified Shamli after analyzing hundreds of hours of security camera footage from the stores, linking him to the incidents in Jerusalem. During interrogations, Shamli claimed he was being persecuted and acted out of revenge, alleging threats against his own life.

The indictment charges Shamli with five counts of using a dangerous poison, five counts of assaulting minors and vulnerable individuals, and theft. Given the severity of the crimes and the threat to public safety, he faces a lengthy prison sentence.