Suspicion of Tampering Grows as No Production Flaw Is Found in Prinook Baby Food

Israel’s Health Ministry said Friday that its investigation into Prinook baby food is pointing away from a manufacturing failure and toward deliberate tampering. The update followed extensive laboratory testing after five children were hospitalized for exposure to benzodiazepines after eating the product. All five were discharged, and additional reports of similar symptoms were examined and ruled out.

Hundreds of products were sampled nationwide, and five items were found to contain the prescription drugs clonazepam and lorazepam. Three of those products came from families, while two were taken directly from the shelves of the Zol U’VeGadol chain in Jerusalem. In response, the district physician in Jerusalem signed administrative closure orders for two Jerusalem branches of the chain, on Jaffa Street 113 and 214.

The ministry said the contaminated products appear to have been unlawfully opened before purchase. It also reviewed the full supply chain, from the manufacturer in the Czech Republic to the importer’s warehouses, and said no evidence was found so far of a problem in manufacturing, import, or storage. Because of that, officials said there is currently no basis for a broad recall of Prinook products, and checks at the importer were found to be in order.

The Health Ministry has passed all of the information to Israel Police, which is leading the criminal investigation. Hospitals were told to stay especially alert for possible exposure to the substances among infants, and the public was urged to buy only original, sealed, intact packages and to seek medical advice if there is any concern.