Jerusalem Toddlers Hospitalized After Benzodiazepines Found in Their Blood

Police and Israel’s Health Ministry have opened a wide-ranging investigation after traces of sedatives and anesthetics from the benzodiazepine family were found in the blood of at least three toddlers in Jerusalem. The children were hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem after becoming apathetic, weak, and exhausted, and were later discharged after observation.

According to a report by Kan News, the cases emerged over the past few weeks, including during the last few days and last month. The toddlers had all consumed infant fruit and vegetable purees shortly before falling ill, which immediately raised concern among doctors and prompted law-enforcement and health officials to join the investigation.

Medical tests reportedly detected benzodiazepines, drugs commonly used in adult anti-anxiety and sedative prescriptions, such as Clonex and Valium. The children were treated under close supervision until their condition stabilized. Police have launched a criminal probe, while the Health Ministry is conducting an urgent epidemiological investigation.

Early findings suggest the children ate different varieties of purees made by Prinoq, bought individually rather than in sealed multipacks, at several different supermarket branches across Jerusalem. Officials stressed that no causal link has yet been proven between the product and the drug traces, and no similar cases have been reported elsewhere in the country so far. The Health Ministry told parents who fed their children the product to watch for drowsiness, fatigue, or confused speech, contact a pediatrician, and call the ministry hotline 5400* while noting the product connection.