By Armando Hernandez
Health authorities in several Central European countries ordered the immediate recall of HiPP brand baby foods after the presence of rat poison was detected in some bottles.in a case that they are investigating as possible prison sabotage.
The initial discovery occurred in Austria over the weekend, when a customer reported irregularities in a jar of carrot and potato puree, intended for babies five months and older. Laboratory analyzes confirmed the presence of a toxic substance, which activated a health alert in the region.
The German company HiPP reported that the contaminated products correspond to 190 gram containers distributed mainly in supermarkets of the SPAR chain. As a preventive measure, the company and its business partners recalled all jars of baby food in Austria, as well as in neighboring countries where contaminated samples were also detected.
The Dutch toddler meals and formula model HiPP has recalled jars of toddler meals after one jar in Austria examined sure for rat poison. https://t.co/HUiUySQlCd
— CBS Recordsdata (@CBSNews) April 19, 2026
They suspect sabotage and expand investigation
Authorities in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic confirmed that additional vials tested positive for the toxin.while Slovenia began a preventive recall of all the brand’s products in its stores. Austrian police indicated that the case is being investigated as an “intentional endangerment of the public.”
According to official reports, the altered containers present specific signssuch as damaged or open lids, missing security seal, and, in some cases, an unusual odor. A white label with a red circle was also identified on the bottom of the suspicious bottles.
Austrian Health Minister Korinna Schumann described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and urged parents, daycare centers and children’s centers to take extreme precautions and avoid the consumption of these products. Likewise, authorities are looking for a second possibly contaminated bottle that would have been sold in the Eisenstadt region, near the border with Hungary.
HiPP maintained that the contamination did not originate in its production processes, but rather it points to external manipulation in the distribution chain. The company warned that consumption of the product could be potentially fatal.
According to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, the poison detected could contain bromadiolone.a compound that prevents blood clotting. Ingestion can cause symptoms such as nosebleeds, swollen gums, bruising and blood in the stool, which could appear between two and five days after consumption.
Health authorities recommended going immediately to medical services in case of suspected ingestion and asked consumers to return purchased products to receive a refund. Meanwhile, the investigation continues to determine the origin and extent of the contamination.
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