Health Ministry Says Some Frupin Jars Had Vacuum Defects, No Toxic Substance Found

Israel’s Knesset Health Committee held a hearing on Monday into the Frupin baby puree case, after allegations that psychoactive, sedative substances were found in five jars sold at a Zol Stock branch in Jerusalem. The discussion came alongside a police investigation into the incident, which has alarmed parents and raised questions about food safety for infants and young children.

Yael Biton, whose two daughters were hospitalized more than a month ago after eating the puree, told lawmakers that one of the girls opened a jar bought the previous day and then both children became ill. She said hospital tests later found benzodiazepines in their urine and that the jar was taken for testing only about a month and a half later. Biton added that the jars were sealed, but her daughter said there was no vacuum sound when it was opened. “I’ve lost my sense of security,” she said, adding that she now fears buying supermarket food.

Knesset members Eitan Ginzburg and Yaron Levi also spoke, saying consumers assume food is safe and that the public needs to be more alert. News reporter Noav Reuveni said the first information reached him on Friday night, but authorities only confirmed it on Monday, several days later, while police initially tried to avoid exposure over fears of disrupting the investigation. He said all products were checked only last week.

The Health Ministry said it had carried out intensive nationwide sampling in large and small retail chains and tested hundreds of jars for vacuum integrity. Pinina Oren-Sneidor, who heads food regulation, said some tests found a vacuum defect in the packaging, but no substances were detected in the products. She said if a sealed product loses its vacuum, spoilage begins. Police representative Lt. Col. Adi Mizrahi Buaron said the case remains under intensive, detailed investigation and that the first case was not initially linked to others until the second case appeared. Ministry official Dikla Reuven said inspectors sampled products across the country and visited importer warehouses, while ministry adviser Lior Avinam said clinical guidance had been issued to doctors to watch for symptoms.