Austrian police confirm rat poison in a baby food jar, sparking a recall and an investigation into possible criminal tampering.
VIENNA: Austrian police have confirmed the discovery of rat poison in a jar of baby food, prompting a major product recall and a criminal investigation.
The Germany-based HiPP brand initiated the recall at SPAR supermarkets in Austria late Friday over concerns that a hazardous substance had been introduced through tampering.
Police in Austria’s eastern Burgenland province stated that jars had been seized in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia as part of ongoing investigations in Germany.
A sample from the seized product was examined and tested positive for rat poison on Saturday afternoon.
Austria’s agency for food protection suggested on Saturday that the rat poison may have been introduced as part of an extortion scheme.
Customers have been asked not to consume the product, identifiable by a white label with a red circle on the jar’s bottom, and to return it to the store of purchase.
This incident is the latest safety scare to affect the baby food market in recent months.
Since December, several major manufacturers including Nestle, Danone and Lactalis have issued recalls of infant formula in over 60 countries over potential contamination with the toxin cereulide.
French authorities have reported that several infants who consumed powdered milk containing cereulide, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, have died.
French prosecutors said in March that the death of one baby in January did not appear to be linked to the consumption of contaminated formula.
