Austrian police have issued an urgent warning to parents following the discovery of rat poison in jars of a well-known baby food brand. The manufacturer confirmed that the products left the factory in perfect condition, pointing to deliberate criminal tampering. The company has since ordered the removal of affected products from shelves in several countries.
Austrian authorities have heightened surveillance after detecting rat poison contamination in jarred baby food from the HiPP brand. Police in the state of Burgenland reported receiving a complaint from a customer who noticed abnormalities in a jar of the "mashed potatoes with carrots" formula, fortunately before the child consumed any.
The affected product is a 190-gram jar of baby food intended for infants aged five months and older. The poison found is Bromadiolone, an anticoagulant that inhibits blood clotting. If ingested, children may experience symptoms such as bleeding gums, nosebleeds, bruising, or bloody stools. Symptoms typically appear slowly, about two to five days after exposure.
Preliminary inspections revealed that the jar had been opened and tampered with. Police suspect at least one more contaminated jar remains on the market. This warning follows a joint investigation with authorities in Germany. Officials also reported finding similarly tampered jars in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, suggesting the involvement of a cross-border criminal network.
HiPP, which operates production facilities in Germany, issued a statement affirming that the incident was not due to any defect in the product or manufacturing process but was an intentional criminal act. They emphasized that all products leave the factory in perfect condition.
Nonetheless, to ensure maximum safety, HiPP has recalled all jarred baby food products sold in supermarkets under the Spar, Eurospar, Interspar, and Maximarkt chains throughout Austria. The company has also coordinated the temporary removal of these products from shelves in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Austrian authorities have advised parents to inspect packaging for signs of tampering, such as damaged or previously opened lids, missing safety seals, unusual or spoiled odors, and notably, the presence of a white sticker with a red circle affixed to the bottom of the jar.
Austria's food safety agency (AGES) stated that if a child accidentally consumes the product and exhibits symptoms like abnormal bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness, they should be taken to a hospital immediately. The incident does not affect powdered milk products or baby food sold by other retailers.
This baby food contamination crisis occurs just months after major brands Nestle and Danone recalled powdered milk products in over 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, due to contamination with the toxin Cereulide, which caused nausea, vomiting, and illness in several children.
.BBC