Rat Poison Found in HiPP Baby Food Jar in Austria, SPAR Recalls Products
Police in Austria have issued a public warning after a HiPP baby food jar, specifically carrot and potato purée, was found to contain rat poison. The discovery was reported by a customer in Burgenland, whose infant fortunately did not consume the tainted product.
Extortion Allegation and Regional Impact
While Austrian police have not officially linked the incident to an extortion attempt, their statement referenced a warning from German investigators and indicated that tampered jars have also been seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This suggests a coordinated criminal operation extending across multiple countries.
HiPP, the German-based company, has recalled its entire range of purées sold in jars through SPAR supermarkets in Austria, citing potential "life-threatening" risks if consumed. The company emphasised that the recall is not due to a product or quality defect, asserting that jars left their factory in "perfect condition" and attributing the issue to a "criminal act" under investigation.
As a precautionary measure, SPAR has also removed HiPP baby food products from its stores in other countries. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety has advised parents to check for damaged or open lids, missing safety seals, unusual odours, or a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of glass jars. Parents whose infants may have consumed the food are urged to seek medical advice if their children exhibit signs of bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness. Customers can return affected HiPP jars purchased at Eurospar, Interspar, and Maximarkt for a refund.
Previous Contamination Incidents
This incident follows broader concerns within the infant food industry. Earlier this year, in January and February, Nestlé and Danone initiated widespread recalls of specific batches of their baby formula brands across more than 60 countries, including the UK. These recalls were prompted by reports of infants falling ill due to contamination with the toxin cereulide, which can induce nausea and vomiting and is resistant to cooking processes.
The UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) reported in February that at least 36 infants in Britain had suffered food poisoning from contaminated baby formula, though none of the cases were life-threatening.