Austrian Authorities Alert Parents to HiPP Baby Food Contamination Concerns

Austrian police have issued a warning about HiPP baby food jars potentially laced with rat poison, following a test that confirmed contamination. The alert was triggered after a customer in Eisenstadt, Burgenland, reported a suspicious jar of carrot and potato purée. While the child involved did not consume the food, the police emphasized the risk of tampered packaging.

Recall and Warnings Issued

HiPP initiated a full recall of its jarred purées sold at Spar supermarkets in Austria on Saturday, stating that the products could pose “life-threatening” dangers. A police spokesperson told the Austria Press Agency on Sunday that at least one more poisoned jar is likely still in circulation. The investigation into the contamination began in neighboring Germany, where authorities were informed about the issue.

In Eisenstadt, police seized the affected jar and confirmed its contents after testing on Saturday. They are urging vigilance, advising parents to check for signs like damaged lids, missing safety seals, unusual odors, or a white sticker with a red circle on the jar’s base.

“Should you possess HiPP baby food with this marking or observe any irregularities: do not open it,” the police statement warned. “Avoid consumption at all times or give it to a small child.”

Similar contaminated jars were identified in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where lab tests detected a toxic additive. The Austrian Health and Food Safety Authority added that parents should consult a doctor if their child shows symptoms like bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness after consuming the product.

Investigation into Public Endangerment

Eisenstadt’s public prosecutor has launched an investigation into intentional public endangerment, as reported by the Austria Press Agency. Customers are now asked to return HiPP jars bought at Eurospar, Interspar, and Maximarkt for refunds.

Austrian Spar operates over 1,500 stores nationwide, though police clarified that baby food sold elsewhere remains unaffected. HiPP’s baby formula was also not part of the recall.

Previous Contamination Incidents

This incident follows earlier recalls by Nestle and Danone, which pulled their infant formula from markets in over 60 countries, including the UK, in January and February. Specific batches were contaminated with cereulide toxin, which causes nausea and vomiting. The toxin persists even after cooking or mixing into baby milk.

The UK Health and Security Agency noted that 36 infants in Britain had experienced food poisoning from the tainted formula, though none faced severe health complications.