Closure Orders Issued for Two Zol BeGadol Stores in Jerusalem

Jerusalem District Physician Prof. Zohar Mor signed administrative closure orders Wednesday for two branches of the Zol BeGadol supermarket chain in Jerusalem, after serious findings were discovered in lab tests on baby fruit puree products sold at the stores.

The orders apply to the branches at 214 Jaffa Street and 114 Jaffa Street. They went into effect immediately, and the stores have been closed until further notice.

According to the published findings, jars of Prinok baby fruit puree sold at the two branches were found to contain the medications clonazepam and lorazepam, strong sedatives from the benzodiazepine family. These substances are not intended for children and can pose an immediate life-threatening danger.

The tests began after an unusual incident last weekend, when five toddlers from the Jerusalem area were hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem. The children suffered severe neurological symptoms, including apathy, extreme drowsiness and muscle weakness, shortly after consuming the fruit purees.

Hadassah Medical Center said four of the toddlers who were brought to the pediatric emergency department last Thursday, two aged three and two aged one, were released the next day after being hospitalized overnight for observation. The children were in mild condition and were discharged in good condition, fully alert and recovered.

The Health Ministry confirmed that lab tests supported the grave suspicion. The Shin Bet is also involved in the investigation because of concern that the incident may have been a deliberate poisoning. Police and the Health Ministry have opened a broad epidemiological and criminal investigation.

Prof. Saar Hashavya, director of the pediatric emergency department at Hadassah Ein Kerem and deputy director of the hospital, said benzodiazepine poisoning can be life-threatening and usually occurs when children accidentally ingest sedatives found at home.

“But this time, thanks to the alertness of the emergency department team, we all pointed to the unusual nature of the event,” he said. “The current cluster was unusual both because several children were poisoned at the same time and because there was no possible access to prescription medication in the children’s surroundings.”

According to details from the investigation, the toddlers consumed Prinok baby food purees before their hospitalization. The products had been purchased as individual items at different Zol BeGadol branches in Jerusalem.

Investigators are now examining all possible directions and trying to determine whether there is a direct connection between the product and the cases.