Austrian baby food suspected of being poisoned for extortion, all products taken off shelves
HiPP is recalling all baby food jars sold in Austrian SPAR and Czech Tesco stores due to suspected rat poison contamination tied to extortion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 10:43
- 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 11:00 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 11:11 (11 min after Collected)
The HiPP brand stated it will recall "the full range of baby food jars sold in SPAR supermarkets in Austria," because "the company cannot rule out the possibility of malicious poisoning in a 190-gram HiPP carrot/potato baby food jar, which could be fatal if consumed."
According to AFP reports, the Austrian food safety agency noted that police have launched an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the incident may be related to extortion, with suspicions that someone planted rat poison.
The company urges consumers not to eat the affected products. This item can be identified by a red circle and white label affixed to the bottom of the jar. Consumers are asked to return the product to the store of purchase.
Police in the eastern state of Burgenland have issued a notice asking witnesses to provide information to assist the investigation.
The Austrian National Food Agency stated that contaminated food jars have currently been found in one SPAR supermarket in eastern Austria and two Tesco supermarkets in the neighboring Czech Republic. (Compiled by Ji Jin-ling) 1150419
According to AFP reports, the Austrian food safety agency noted that police have launched an investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the incident may be related to extortion, with suspicions that someone planted rat poison.
The company urges consumers not to eat the affected products. This item can be identified by a red circle and white label affixed to the bottom of the jar. Consumers are asked to return the product to the store of purchase.
Police in the eastern state of Burgenland have issued a notice asking witnesses to provide information to assist the investigation.
The Austrian National Food Agency stated that contaminated food jars have currently been found in one SPAR supermarket in eastern Austria and two Tesco supermarkets in the neighboring Czech Republic. (Compiled by Ji Jin-ling) 1150419