Israel's Ministry of Health confirmed Wednesday that laboratory tests on "Prinuk" brand fruit purees detected residues of benzodiazepines, powerful psychoactive sedatives not intended for children and potentially life-threatening to them.
The investigation was opened following a serious incident last weekend in which five toddlers from the Jerusalem area were hospitalized after consuming the purees and exhibiting severe neurological symptoms, including extreme lethargy, apathy, and muscle weakness.
The Shin Bet has been brought into the investigation, and findings have been transferred to the security agency. Two branches of the "Zol U'Bgadol" discount chain in Jerusalem, at 113 Jaffa Street and 214 Jaffa Street, were ordered closed immediately.
The Health Ministry clarified that at this stage, no blanket recall of all Prinuk products has been issued. No indication of a manufacturing defect or contamination at the production facility itself has been found, and all products tested from importers came back clean, suggesting the contamination may have occurred further down the supply chain.
Parents are urged not to feed children any Prinuk fruit purees purchased at the two closed Jerusalem locations until further notice.
