Israel’s Health Ministry restricts two Jerusalem stores amid infant puree contamination probe

Israel’s Health Ministry imposed unusual restrictions on two branches of the Zol U'VeGadol chain on Jaffa Street 113 and 214 in Jerusalem after the Prinek baby-food case. From 4 p.m. on Thursday, the stores were barred from selling food and cosmetics and may sell only non-food items until they submit an approved quality-control plan.

The action follows the ministry’s investigation into suspicions that medicines were introduced into Prinek fruit purees. So far, two separate incidents have been reported in which five children were hospitalized after eating purees bought at those branches, though all of the children have since been discharged. Lab tests found benzodiazepines in the products.

As part of the inquiry, inspectors tested hundreds of items across the country, including about 70 jars for toxicology tests, 110 vacuum-sealed samples and more than 500 products checked at points of sale. Clonazepam and lorazepam were found in five products, three provided by families and two taken from shelves of the Jerusalem stores. The ministry said all five products showed signs of having been opened illegally before purchase.

At the same time, tests at the importer’s warehouses, along the supply chain and at other retail locations found no similar results, and investigators found no evidence of a manufacturing, importing or storage failure. The ministry said the stores must present a comprehensive quality-control program, including checks for product integrity, routine inspections, employee training and immediate reporting of any suspected tampering, before they can sell food and cosmetics again. Because no broader defect was found in Prinek products, no nationwide recall has been ordered. Police are still investigating.