Food technologist sentenced to 30 months for baby deaths

Frederick Black was convicted of not revealing that the Remedia baby formula was highly deficient in vitamin B1

Adiv Sterman is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.

Illustrative photo of a newborn baby (photo credit: Moshe Shai/Flash90)
Illustrative photo of a newborn baby (photo credit: Moshe Shai/Flash90)

Remedia’s chief food technologist was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in prison for indirectly causing the deaths of four babies by not checking the efficacy of baby formula marketed by the company.

Frederick Black had been convicted of four cases of negligent manslaughter after not revealing that a baby formula marketed by the company was highly deficient in vitamin B1 (thiamine).

The deficient food caused damage to its consumer’s nervous system and ultimately lead to the death of four babies and the injury of several more children.

The presiding Petah Tikva Magistrate’s Court judge, Leah Lev-on, found that Black likely assumed that thiamine was in the formula, which was provided by international baby foods company Humana, but “did not receive test results and did not ask to see them,” even though he was aware that there was no specific test for the vitamin in the final production stages at Remedia.

Even though the product was provided by an outside contractor, Lev-on ruled, the defendant still had “the responsibility to market safe food.” The judge also ordered a renewed investigation of Humana, and opened the possibility of extradition to Israel of those who were responsible for the lack of thiamine in the formula.

The company’s CEO, Gideon Landsberger, was found guilty of violating standards and was fined NIS 10,000, but was not sentenced to prison.

In 2011, five health care workers accepted a plea bargain on charges of negligence in relation to the incident, and were ordered to perform 400-500 hours of community service.

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