In brief
Australian authorities have issued a warning after rat poison was found in a jar of HiPP baby food. The contaminated product was reported by a customer whose baby did not consume it. Police believe more tampered jars may be in circulation, prompting a recall of all HiPP purées sold in Spar supermarkets across Austria. Consumers are urged to look for signs of tampering and to return any affected jars for a refund.
Police in Austria have urged people to be vigilant after a sample of HiPP baby food was found to contain rat poison. The poisoned jar of carrot and potato purée was reported by a customer, and fortunately, their baby did not consume it.The jar had apparently been tampered with, and authorities believe at least one more poisoned jar is in circulation. They have issued guidance on how to recognize tampered jars and have not confirmed any links to an alleged extortion attempt.A warning from German investigators has led to similar tampered jars being seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. On Saturday, HiPP recalled its entire range of jarred purées sold in Spar supermarkets in Austria, stating that consuming them may be potentially life-threatening.The German-based company clarified that the recall was not due to a defect in their product but rather a criminal act that is currently being investigated. They reported isolated cases of tampered jars seized in Austria as well as in neighboring countries.Consumers are advised to check for damaged or open lids, missing safety seals, unusual odors, or a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety warned parents to consult a doctor if their children showed signs of bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness after consuming the affected food.Customers should refrain from consuming HiPP jars purchased at Eurospar, Interspar, and Maximarkt and return any purchased jars for a refund.Authorities previously confirmed that baby food sold in other shops remains unaffected, and HiPP's baby formula was also declared safe. As a precaution, retailers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have removed all HiPP baby food jars from sale. This incident follows previous widespread recalls by other baby food brands earlier this year over contamination fears.
