Authorities in Austria are investigating a dangerous case of product tampering after rat poison was discovered inside a jar of baby food. Police in the province of Burgenland say a shopper noticed something suspicious about a jar of HiPP carrot-and-potato purée before feeding it to their child and alerted officials. The contaminated product had been altered after leaving the factory, and investigators believe at least one more tampered jar may still be in circulation.
Officials say similar altered baby food jars have also been found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The incidents may be connected to a larger criminal investigation underway in Germany.
The baby food manufacturer HiPP has responded by recalling all jarred purées sold through Spar-owned supermarkets in Austria. The company said the situation poses a potentially life-threatening risk but emphasized that the problem was not caused by any defect in the production process.
Spar has removed HiPP baby food jars from its stores in Austria and from locations in other countries as a precaution. Retailers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also pulled the products from their shelves. Customers can return the jars for a refund even if they no longer have a receipt.
Health officials in Austria are advising parents to carefully inspect baby food jars before using them. Warning signs include broken or loose lids, missing safety seals, unusual odors, or a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar. Parents are also urged to seek medical attention immediately if a child develops symptoms such as bleeding, severe weakness, or unusual paleness.
The recall only applies to HiPP jarred purées sold through Spar supermarkets. HiPP infant formula and products sold through other retailers are not included in the recall.