Jerusalem court keeps Zol u'B'Gadol branches shut amid Clonazepam-tainted baby food probe

Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Friday rejected the Zol u'B'Gadol chain’s petition to overturn administrative closure orders for two Jerusalem branches on Jaffa Street, saying the orders were legally sound. The Health Ministry also said it has now identified five jars of Frינוק baby fruit puree containing sedatives, three found with families whose children were hospitalized and two found on the chain’s shelves.

Five children were hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem in two incidents a month apart, and all were later released in good condition. The chain argued that its hearing at the Health Ministry was held only after the closures took effect, that the move was disproportionately harmful to its business and reputation, and that less drastic steps, such as closing only the baby-products section, would have sufficed because contamination could have occurred anywhere in the supply chain.

The state, represented by attorney Moti Greiner of the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office, said the branches had operated without a valid business license and had to be shut immediately to protect the public. Lab tests found benzodiazepine residues in the puree, creating what the court called a serious risk to children’s health. Judge Hagit Plaut-Babad ruled that the danger justified a post-facto hearing, and after reviewing confidential police and Health Ministry materials she said there were at this stage concrete links to both branches.

The closure orders cover the branches at 214 Jaffa Street and 113 Jaffa Street in Jerusalem, and state that the products are dangerous because a medical substance is present in food meant for children. The ministry said extensive checks, including hundreds of product samples, found no evidence of a manufacturing defect or contamination at the Czech factory, so there is no broad recall of the brand for now.

Investigators have found five tainted jars in total, containing clonazepam and lorazepam, and all showed signs of being opened unlawfully before purchase, strengthening the suspicion that someone tampered with the jars. The Health Ministry said it is monitoring hospitals for possible benzodiazepine exposure in infants and young children, while police lead the criminal investigation.