The Knesset Health Committee convened Monday to examine the case of fruit puree products that were found to contain sedative and anesthetic substances, following revelations first reported by Kan News. The discussion came after the Health Ministry informed the parents of five toddlers who were hospitalized after consuming Prinok fruit purees that laboratory testing had confirmed the presence of anesthetic substances in the products.

During the hearing, officials acknowledged that the Health Ministry currently lacks systems capable of immediately reporting, cross-referencing, and analyzing similar incidents to identify broader public health threats. Dr. Yael Luria, director of the National Poison Information Center at Rambam Medical Center, said authorities remain heavily dependent on the vigilance of individual physicians and noted that no system currently exists to allow immediate reporting and analysis of suspected cases.

Committee Chairman MK Yonatan Mashriki called for stronger oversight of baby food products and urged the Health Ministry to examine additional safety measures, including tamper-evident seals. “Parents in Israel must know that the food they give their children is safe, supervised, and fit for use,” he said.

Yael Biton, the mother of two of the affected toddlers, told lawmakers that she immediately suspected the fruit puree jar was contaminated and repeatedly asked hospital staff to test it. According to her testimony, the jar was not examined for approximately six weeks, despite being in the possession of authorities. Representatives of the police and Health Ministry declined to explain during the hearing why the jar was not tested sooner, even after additional toddlers were hospitalized under similar circumstances.

Health Ministry official Penina Oren Schneider said the initial case was viewed as an isolated medical incident and only after a similar case emerged did authorities begin investigating a possible connection. She said the ministry would conduct an internal review and refine procedures involving coordination between the ministry, hospitals, and police once the investigation is completed.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)