Scandal: Rat poison found in HiPP baby food in several EU countries

2026-04-19 19:24:31Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Austrian police said they found rat poison in a jar of HiPP baby food. The product was recalled from more than 1,000 Spar supermarkets in the country due to safety concerns, The Guardian reports.

Burgenland police said in a statement that a sample from a 190-gram jar of carrots and potatoes, which was reported by a consumer, was found to contain rat poison.

HiPP had stated that the possibility of a dangerous substance being introduced into the product could not be ruled out and that the jars of carrots and potatoes may have been tampered with.
Consuming this food could be life-threatening, the company warned.

According to police, the affected products have a sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar. If the lid is open or damaged or does not have the protective seal, there may be an unusual odor.

Authorities also said that initial laboratory tests on similar jars seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia showed the presence of a toxic substance, but without providing further details.

Police noted that Austrian authorities had been warned of the danger following investigations conducted in Germany.

HiPP stated that "according to the information available to date, this critical situation is linked to an external criminal intervention involving the Spar distribution network in Austria."

A Spar spokesman told Reuters that the product recall was a precautionary measure and affected 1,500 stores in Austria, without affecting stores in other countries.

Spar and HiPP urged consumers not to consume products purchased from Spar stores in Austria, clarifying that a full refund would be offered.

Police advised consumers to wash their hands thoroughly if they come into contact with the jars.


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