Five Health Ministry officials were among those who were indicted Tuesday in the 2003 Remedia case, in which three babies died and 20 were seriously injured by mislabeled baby formula. Despite labeling to the contrary, the Remedia baby formula in the case did not contain Vitamin B1 (thiamin), which is used by the body to break down sugars and release energy into the cells as well as prevent concentrations of lactic acid. Vitamin B1 deficiency causes serious harm to bodily systems, especially the central nervous system (CNS) and also allows a buildup of lactic acid in the body, which affects the baby's ability to balance, among other things.
Dr. Dorit Nitzan-Klosky, who was the director of the National Food Service at the time of the incident, and four supervisors at the Ashdod and Haifa ports where the German food import should have been examined when it arrived, were indicted. Also indicted were three former senior Remedia officials, Gideon Landsberger, Moshe Miller and Frederick Black. The Justice Ministry issued a statement Tuesday saying it would recommend that a panel of three judges be appointed to hear the case.