Austrian authorities reported the discovery of rat poison inside a jar of Hipp baby food, prompting the recall of the product from 1,500 Spar supermarkets in the country due to safety concerns. The police in Burgenland stated that a sample from a 190-gram jar of carrot with potato baby food, brought forward by a customer in the Eisenstadt-Umgebung district, tested positive for rat poison.
Hipp had expressed uncertainty on Saturday regarding the potential introduction of a hazardous substance into the product, indicating that their Hipp Vegetable Carrot with Potato jars might have been tampered with. The company emphasized that consuming the contents could pose a life-threatening risk.
Identified by a red circle sticker on the bottom and signs of tampering like an opened or damaged lid or a missing safety seal, the affected jars raised alarms. Preliminary laboratory assessments on similar jars seized in Czechia and Slovakia revealed the presence of a toxic substance, although detailed information was not disclosed.
Hipp later confirmed to Reuters that the jars indeed contained rat poison, prompting immediate removal of all affected Hipp baby food jars from retail partners in both countries as a precautionary measure. The police noted that Austrian authorities were alerted to the risk following investigations in Germany, without providing further specifics.
Amidst the ongoing situation, Hipp suggested that the issue stemmed from criminal interference within the Spar Austria distribution network, assuring that products and channels outside the current investigations were unaffected. Spar Austria announced the removal of Hipp products from all countries of operation, including Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Northern Italy.
Customers were advised not to consume the jars purchased from Spar Austria and were assured full refunds upon return. Additionally, police recommended thorough handwashing for anyone who had handled the baby food jars. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical assistance if babies had ingested the contaminated baby food.