Four toddlers hospitalized after exposure to sedatives, health ministry probes fruit puree link

Four children, two pairs of siblings aged three and one, were rushed on Thursday to the pediatric emergency room at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after playing in a neighborhood yard and arriving sleepy, weak and apathetic. Blood tests found traces of benzodiazepines, sedative and anesthetic drugs found in anti-anxiety medicines for adults such as Valium and Klonex.

Following the hospitalization, Israel’s Health Ministry said on Monday it was investigating a possible link to a baby fruit puree product branded "Prinoq" that the children had reportedly eaten. The product was purchased in branches of the "Zol VeB’Gadol" supermarket chain. The ministry said it immediately opened an epidemiological investigation and launched urgent supervision and control steps.

Hospital officials said the medical and nursing staff in the pediatric ER carried out several tests and that all four children were fully conscious and had improved significantly. They were kept for observation for one night only and discharged on Friday in good condition.

The ministry stressed that it cannot yet determine whether there is a connection between the cases and the product, noting that it was sold individually rather than in a multipack. Still, it urged parents whose children ate the product to watch for changes such as drowsiness, exhaustion or confused speech, and to contact a pediatrician and the ministry hotline at 5400*. It also reminded consumers to check that food products are sealed, intact, properly labeled, stored correctly and have the expected appearance, color and smell. The ministry said it is coordinating with enforcement authorities and will continue updating the public as needed.