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Austrian police have issued a public warning after a sample of HiPP purée tested positive for rat poison, raising concerns over contaminated baby food in circulation.
The police, in a statement, revealed that the poisoned food was found in a carrot and potato jar, which had been reported by a customer in Eisenstadt. The police said the baby food jar had apparently been tampered with.
A police spokesperson told the Austrian Press Agency (APA) on Sunday that at least one more poisoned jar is believed to be in circulation.
“A sample of the seized product was examined on Saturday afternoon and tested positive for rat poison,” they said.
A HiPP spokesman told AFP that, based on the current state of knowledge, the case concerns only clearly defined sales channels.
“Products and distribution channels in Germany or other European countries that are not part of the investigation are not affected,” said the spokesman.
The company also said “production, quality, and control processes are fully intact” and the incident “is in no way related to product quality or production”.
The German base of the HiPP brand announced a recall at SPAR supermarkets in Austria on Friday over the possibility that “a hazardous substance” was introduced into its “carrot with potato” puree through tampering.
Police have seized jars in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Austria’s agency for food protection alleged that the rat poison may have been introduced as part of an extortion scheme.
Customers were instructed not to consume the product, which can be identified by a white label with a red circle on the bottom of the jar, urging them to return it to the store of purchase instead.
Czech police also warned consumers on Sunday.
