Authorities in Austria have launched an urgent investigation and public safety alert after a jar of baby food produced by German manufacturer HiPP was discovered to contain rat poison, raising fears that more contaminated products may still be in circulation.
Police in the eastern province of Burgenland confirmed that the contaminated jar of carrot and potato purée was reported by a vigilant customer.
Fortunately, the infant had not consumed the contents before the suspected tampering was detected.
Investigators said the jar appeared to have been deliberately tampered with after leaving the production facility. Authorities have not confirmed whether the incident is linked to an extortion attempt, but disclosed that the warning originated from German investigators.
Similar tampered jars have reportedly been seized in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, suggesting a possible cross-border criminal operation.
In response to the discovery, HiPP moved swiftly on Saturday to recall its entire range of jarred purées sold through Spar Austria supermarkets across the country. The company warned that consuming the affected products could be potentially “life-threatening.”
In a statement posted on its website, HiPP emphasised that the recall was not due to any production or quality defects. “The jars left our factory in perfect condition,” the company stated. “The recall is related to a criminal act that is being investigated by the authorities.” It added that examinations conducted by responsible authorities confirmed the presence of rat poison in isolated tampered jars.
As a precautionary measure, Spar has removed HiPP baby food jars not only from Austrian outlets but also from stores in other countries. Customers have been advised not to consume HiPP jars purchased at Eurospar, Interspar and Maximarkt branches, and to return them for a full refund.
Austria has more than 1,500 Spar stores nationwide. However, police stressed that baby food sold in other retail outlets remains unaffected by the recall. HiPP’s baby formula products are also not impacted.
Retailers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have likewise preemptively withdrawn all HiPP baby food jars from sale pending further investigation.
Austrian authorities have issued clear guidance to consumers on how to spot suspicious products. Parents are urged to check for:
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety advised parents to seek immediate medical attention if their child shows symptoms such as bleeding, extreme weakness or unusual paleness after consuming the product.
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The incident comes just months after two global food giants, Nestlé and Danone, issued widespread recalls of infant formula across more than 60 countries, including the United Kingdom.
Those recalls, announced in January and February, were linked to contamination with the toxin cereulide — a substance that can cause nausea and vomiting and is not destroyed by cooking or during preparation of baby milk.
The UK Health Security Agency confirmed in February that at least 36 infants in Britain had suffered food poisoning linked to contaminated baby formula, though none of the cases were considered life-threatening.
As investigations continue across multiple European countries, Austrian police have urged parents and caregivers to remain vigilant and carefully inspect baby food products before use, stressing that consumer awareness remains critical in preventing potential harm