A 39-year-old man has been arrested after rat poison was discovered in jars of HiPP baby food across Europe. The contamination scare triggered recalls in 1,500 supermarkets in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
Investigation and Arrest
Police took the suspect into custody following a customer report of a tampered jar. The seized jar of carrot-and-potato flavored baby food tested positive for rat poison in the city of Eisenstadt. Authorities said five tampered jars were intercepted before they could be consumed.
Product Recall
Baby food manufacturer HiPP has removed its jars from shelves in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The affected products were intended for infants as young as five months old and were sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria. HiPP revealed it has been a victim of extortion, with someone sending a message to a shared mailbox, prompting the company to contact police.
Authorities are still searching for a sixth jar, believed to be in Austria, which has not yet been located. Police said affected jars were marked with a white sticker and a red circle on the bottom. Families have been warned to look out for damaged or open lids, jars missing a safety seal, or an unusual or spoiled odor.
Company Statement
HiPP stated that the products left their facilities in perfect condition. The company stressed that the recall was precautionary and not a result of a manufacturing fault. Store bosses have pledged to give full refunds to customers who return the products. Anyone who has purchased any of the suspect jars has been advised to thoroughly wash their hands.
