Health Ministry finds sedatives in baby fruit puree jars sold in Jerusalem

Israel's Health Ministry said Wednesday that laboratory testing found drug substances, clonazepam and lorazepam, in jars of Frinook baby fruit puree sold at two Zol VeBigadol branches in Jerusalem. The affected stores are the HaMachane branch at 113 Jaffa Street and the branch at 214 Jaffa Street. The ministry issued immediate closure orders for both branches and brought in additional enforcement bodies, including the Israel Police.

On Tuesday, the ministry had already sent a professional alert to hospitals in the Jerusalem area, telling staff to watch for infants and small children arriving with symptoms that could fit exposure to benzodiazepine-type substances, and to report similar cases from recent weeks. The children hospitalized after consuming the purees have since been discharged.

Officials said this is not, for now, a broad recall of all Frinook products. They said there is no indication of a manufacturing defect, a problem at the factory, or contamination in the plant itself, and that all tests performed on products from the importers came back normal.

The ministry asked parents whose children ate the product to monitor for changes in behavior, including drowsiness, fatigue, or confused speech, and to contact a pediatrician and the ministry hotline at 5400* while noting the link to the product. It also advised consumers to buy only sealed, properly labeled products in their original packaging, and not to eat products bought at the two branches, items sold outside original packaging, products with abnormal color, appearance, or smell, or jars whose vacuum seal does not work properly. The ministry said the investigation is continuing and the public will be updated as needed.