The bad news spread like wildfire as Israelis were hit with hot pot full of disappointment and fear. The Ministry of Health and the Economy and Industry Ministry made a joint statement warning against drinking coffee from cafes, restaurants and places with coffee machines due to the high amounts of lead discovered.
The announcement was not taken lightly as Israel is a country brewing rich with coffee culture. Though there is no immediate danger, the health department made a statewide announcement recommending that all consumers reduce coffee consumption from any public machines.
The Ministry of Health did make a strong statement that pregnant women should no longer intake coffee from public institutions until they knew which ones contained lead. Lead contamination is a serious issue and can lead to problems with brain development and attention deficit disorders.
The investigation did not specify which locations or machines were producing the lead. Many coffee shops across the country have chosen to swiftly replace their coffee machines to ensure their business continues as usual.
