A widespread recall of baby food is underway in Austria after police confirmed a jar of HiPP product was contaminated with rat poison, a discovery authorities are treating as suspected criminal blackmail.
Discovery and Immediate Recall
The alarm was raised after a customer reported a suspicious jar of HiPP “Vegetable Carrot with Potato” baby food, purchased from a SPAR supermarket. Police in Burgenland confirmed that laboratory analysis of the sample tested positive for rat poison, a substance that makes consumption of the contents potentially life-threatening.
In response, HiPP issued a recall affecting its entire line of baby food jars sold through SPAR Austria. The supermarket chain, acting on the precautionary measure, removed all potentially affected products from the shelves of over 1,000 of its stores, with the recall extending to 1,500 outlets in total across the country. SPAR confirmed the incident has no impact on its outlets outside of Austria.
Both HiPP and SPAR Austria have advised customers not to consume any HiPP baby food jars purchased from their stores and to return them for a full refund, even without a receipt.
How to Identify a Tampered Jar
Authorities have provided specific identifiers to help consumers spot jars that may have been interfered with. The potentially compromised 190g jars can be recognised by a sticker with a red circle on the bottom. The lid may appear to have already been opened, be damaged, or be missing its safety seal. Consumers are also warned to be alert to any unusual or spoiled smell emanating from the product.
The Austrian police have advised anyone who handles such a jar to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards. Crucially, they urge parents to seek immediate medical attention if a child shows symptoms such as bleeding gums, nosebleeds, unexplained bruises, or blood in their stool after consuming the product.
HiPP has stated that, according to its current knowledge, this is a case of “external criminal interference” targeting the SPAR Austria distribution channel. The company emphasized that its own production, quality, and control processes remain unaffected and that the incident is unrelated to manufacturing quality. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) has indicated the contamination is likely part of an attempt to blackmail the manufacturer.
International Investigation and Broader Context
The case has cross-border dimensions. Austrian authorities were initially warned about the risk following investigations in Germany, from where a tip-off originated. Furthermore, initial laboratory tests on similar jars seized by police in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also shown the presence of a toxic substance. In the Czech Republic, contaminated jars were found at two Tesco supermarkets, prompting local police warnings.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny over infant food safety, following other large-scale recalls in recent months. Manufacturers including Nestlé and Danone have recalled infant formula due to contamination with the toxin cereulide. HiPP has separately clarified that its own milk formulas are not part of that unrelated cereulide recall.
A criminal investigation led by Austrian police is ongoing, with authorities appealing to the public for any relevant information. The exact nature of the rat poison used and the specifics of the suspected blackmail attempt remain under investigation.
