Two Infants Hospitalized After Eating Fruit Purée, Health Ministry Investigates

Israel’s Health Ministry said on Monday that two infants were hospitalized after eating a fruit purée product. The purée is from the Frינוק brand, and it was bought in branches of the Zol U’Bagedol retail chain. Officials said there is currently a suspicion of a possible link between the product and the hospitalizations, but that connection has not been confirmed.

The ministry said it immediately opened an epidemiological investigation and launched urgent inspection and enforcement steps to examine the matter. At this stage, it cannot determine whether the cases were caused by the product. The ministry also noted that the product was sold as individual units, not in a multi-pack.

Parents who fed their children the product were asked to watch for changes in behavior, including drowsiness, exhaustion, or confused speech. If such symptoms appear, the ministry advised contacting a pediatrician and calling its hotline, 5400*, while reporting the possible connection to the product.

The ministry also reminded the public to check that food products are sealed and intact, properly labeled, stored under suitable conditions, and have the expected appearance, color, and smell. It said it is in contact with enforcement authorities and will update the public as needed.