Health Ministry: Stop buying coffee, lead traces found in machines

The Health Ministry on Tuesday warned Israelis to avoid purchasing coffee from cafes and restaurants after irregular amounts of lead traces were discovered in industrial coffee makers across the country.

In a statement, the ministry said it has detected “higher than permitted” lead concentrations (above 10 part per billion) in the water of machines frequently used by coffee shops, hotels, and offices.

It said it was launching nationwide recalls and tests along with the Economy Ministry, which were expected to last about a month, to ensure the machines were producing coffee that was safe for consumption.

In the interim, the Health Ministry was cautioning consumers to steer clear of buying takeaway coffee, a firm favorite among Israelis.

“It should be noted that there is no immediate danger,” the ministry said. “However, during the test period and as a precaution, the Health Ministry recommends, as much as possible, to reduce coffee drinking from industrial machines — until the test results come back, where possible.”

“In addition, the Health Ministry recommends pregnant women avoid drinking coffee from industrial machines until further notice,” it said.

Half of the machines checked by the ministry until now have been found to contain lead concentrations exceeding the Health Ministry regulations of 10ppb-20ppb, Channel 2 reported on Tuesday evening.

The ministry did not detail which models of coffee makers were being tested.

Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can dramatically compromise the neurological and intellectual abilities of the former in severe cases. Adults exposed to high levels of lead can also suffer from cardiovascular problems, impaired kidney and reproductive functioning.

Stuart Winer contributed to this report.