A jar of baby food sold in Austria has tested positive for rat poison, triggering a major recall across supermarkets and a criminal investigation into suspected product tampering, authorities said.
Police in the eastern Austrian province of Burgenland confirmed that a sample taken from a 190-gram jar of carrot and potato baby food manufactured by HiPP tested positive for toxic substances after being flagged by a customer.
The product had already been recalled from around 1,500 SPAR supermarkets across Austria as a precautionary measure amid growing safety concerns.
Suspected criminal interference
HiPP said it could not rule out that a “dangerous substance” had been introduced into the product after it left the company’s facilities, pointing to possible deliberate tampering.
“According to our current knowledge, this critical situation involves an external criminal interference that affects the SPAR Austria distribution channel,” the company said in a statement.
Authorities believe the contamination is not linked to production defects but may be part of a broader criminal act. Austrian food safety officials have indicated that the poisoning could be tied to an extortion attempt, although investigations are ongoing.
Police also said Austria had been alerted to potential risks following investigations in Germany, suggesting the incident may have wider cross-border implications.
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Warning signs and health risks
Officials have urged consumers not to use the affected baby food jars, warning that consumption “could be life-threatening.”
The suspicious jars are believed to carry a white sticker with a red circle on the base, along with other signs of tampering such as damaged lids, missing safety seals, or an unusual smell.
Similar jars seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also tested positive for toxic substances, raising concerns about the wider distribution chain.
According to Austria’s Agency for Health and Food Safety, rat poison commonly contains anticoagulant compounds such as bromadiolone, which can prevent blood clotting and lead to serious internal bleeding. Symptoms may include nosebleeds, bruising, and bleeding gums, often appearing two to five days after ingestion.
Authorities have advised parents to seek immediate medical help if a child may have consumed the contaminated product.
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Recall and precautionary measures
SPAR and HiPP said all affected products have been removed from shelves, and customers are being offered full refunds, even without receipts.
Retail partners in neighboring countries, including Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have also withdrawn HiPP baby food jars as a precaution.
Police have further advised consumers to wash their hands thoroughly if they come into contact with any suspected jar.
While no confirmed cases of consumption have been reported so far, the incident has raised fresh concerns over food safety and the vulnerability of supply chains to deliberate contamination, particularly in products intended for infants.
