Health Ministry Finds Sedatives in Prineok Fruit Purees Sold in Jerusalem

Israel’s Health Ministry said it found the sedatives clonazepam and lorazepam in Prineok fruit purees that had been eaten by at least four toddlers. The contaminated jars were sold at two Jerusalem branches of the Zol U’Begadol chain, and the ministry issued immediate closure orders for the stores on Jaffa Street 113 and 214.

The ministry said the hospitalized children have now been discharged. The warning followed reports from about two days earlier that at least four toddlers had been admitted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after eating the fruit puree, and doctors were checking whether the product was linked to the sedatives detected in the children’s bodies.

In its statement, the ministry said there is no blanket recall of all Prineok products at this stage because no sign of a manufacturing defect or contamination at the factory has been found. It added that checks carried out on products from the importers were found to be clean.

The Health Ministry said it is still working with enforcement agencies, including Israel Police, and urged parents whose children ate the product to watch for unusual sleepiness, fatigue, or confused speech, contact a pediatrician, and call the ministry hotline 5400* while noting the link to the product.