According to Austrian police, tests on seized samples confirmed rat poison in the food containers. The incident is being investigated as a suspected case of targeted tampering.
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Austria has been on high alert after rat poison was found in baby food. The manufacturer has also started withdrawing the products from the market. Police said on Saturday that initial tests had confirmed the presence of a dangerous substance in the food container, posing a serious safety risk.
According to Austrian police, tests on seized samples confirmed the presence of rat poison. The incident is being investigated in connection with suspected targeted tampering. The German-headquartered HIPP brand had previously decided to recall its ‘carrot with potato’ puree sold in Austrian SPAR supermarkets over possible tampering.
The investigation is part of a wider operation launched in Germany, which has also seized the product in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Police in Austria's eastern Burgenland province released the information, saying tests had confirmed the presence of a dangerous toxin.
Austria's food safety agency is investigating the incident as a possible ransom scheme, which has raised concerns about criminal activity in the sensitive sector of baby food. Authorities have urged consumers not to use the product and to return it to the place of purchase immediately.
The incident has deepened growing concerns about baby food safety in Europe. In recent months, multinational companies have recalled products over suspected contamination of baby food. In particular, since December, companies such as Nestle, Danone and Lactalis have withdrawn infant formula potentially contaminated with the toxin cerulide from the market in more than 60 countries.
According to French authorities, some babies who consumed powdered milk contaminated with cerulide have developed serious health problems, including nausea and diarrhea. Some cases have even resulted in deaths. However, French prosecutors have said that the death of an infant in January was not directly linked to the contaminated formula.
The new incident has highlighted the need to tighten safety standards in the supply chain of baby food products, as such products directly affect a particularly vulnerable group: infants.
