Austria warns of rat poison in tampered HiPP baby food jars

Authorities in Austria are warning parents not to use certain HiPP baby food jars after police said a tampered product tested positive for rat poison. HiPP has recalled its full range of baby food jars sold through a major Austrian supermarket chain as a precaution.

The warning was issued Sunday after Austrian police said authorities were alerted during an investigation in Germany that contaminated HiPP jars may have entered circulation in eastern Austria.

Police said a customer in Schützen am Gebirge, a town near the eastern Austrian city of Eisenstadt, reported a suspicious 190-gram jar of HiPP “Carrots with Potatoes” that appeared to have been manipulated. The jar was seized and was not consumed.

Authorities said similar marked jars were also seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Initial laboratory testing in those countries found a toxic substance in the products, and Austrian police said a sample from the jar seized in Austria was tested Saturday afternoon and came back positive for rat poison.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety said HiPP on Saturday ordered a recall of its 190-gram “Carrot with Potato” vegetable jar because of product tampering. The agency said HiPP is also recalling its entire range of baby food jars sold through SPAR Austria, one of the country’s largest supermarket chains, as a precaution.

According to the recall notice, it cannot be ruled out that a dangerous substance was introduced into the 190-gram jar through manipulation. The notice said consuming even one small jar could be life-threatening.

Customers were told not to consume any HiPP baby food jars bought at SPAR Austria and to return them to any store for a full refund, even without a receipt.

Police said suspicious jars can be identified by a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom. Other warning signs include a lid that is already open or damaged, a missing safety seal indicated by the lack of a popping sound when first opened, or an unusual or spoiled smell.

Authorities told parents and caregivers not to open any suspicious product, not to offer it to a child, to keep it away from other food and to wash their hands thoroughly after handling it.