Days after four toddlers were rushed to the emergency room at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center suffering from drowsiness and weakness, and traces of sedatives were found in their blood, Israel’s Health Ministry announced Wednesday that laboratory tests confirmed the presence of sedative substances in the baby food the toddlers had consumed before falling ill.

Testing found the pharmaceutical substances Clonazepam (sold under the brand name Klonopin) and Lorazepam (sold under the brand name Lorivan) in jars of Prinok fruit puree for babies that were sold at two branches of the Zol U’Begadol supermarket chain on Rechov Yaffo in Jerusalem. Both medications are sedatives from the benzodiazepine family and are intended for adult use.

In the wake of the findings, the Health Ministry issued immediate closure orders for the two stores where the products were purchased: the “Machane” branch at Rechov Yaffo 113 and the branch at  Rechov Yaffo 214 in Jerusalem. Police have also opened an investigation into the incident, and according to a Channel 12 report, the Shin Bet is also involved in the investigation.

The Ministry has warned consumers not to use products purchased from the two Zol B’Gadol stores on Rechov Yaffo. It also advised against consuming products that were not sold in their original packaging, products with unusual color, appearance, or smell, or products whose vacuum-seal mechanism is not functioning properly.

At this stage, the Health Ministry has not ordered a nationwide recall of all Prinok baby food products, stating that no indication was found of a manufacturing defect, production failure, or contamination at the production facility. All tests conducted on products obtained from the importers were found to be normal. Investigators are therefore examining the possibility that the substances were introduced into the products at a later stage.

All four children who were hospitalized—two pairs of siblings, ages one and three—were discharged from Hadassah Ein Kerem the day after admission and are reported to be in good condition.

Dr. Itai Marmur, a pediatrician with Maccabi Healthcare Services, told Ynet: “When a young child is exposed to small amounts of benzodiazepines, symptoms may include drowsiness, reduced alertness or apathy, muscle weakness, decreased coordination, and sometimes mild respiratory depression or constipation. In most cases, these effects are temporary and resolve within a few hours, but any child displaying such symptoms should receive medical evaluation and monitoring. As for long-term consequences, there is generally no concern when the exposure is a one-time event.”

The Health Ministry is urging parents whose children consumed the product to watch for symptoms such as drowsiness, fatigue, or confused speech. Parents whose children exhibit such symptoms are advised to contact their pediatrician and the Health Ministry hotline (*5400) and report the possible connection to the product.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)