Rat Poison Found in Baby Food Jars in Austria After Product Recall

German baby food manufacturer HiPP recalled its entire range of jarred purées from more than 1,500 Spar supermarkets across Austria after rat poison was detected in jars, with contaminated products also found in Czech Republic and Slovakia. HiPP stated the contamination resulted from external tampering rather than manufacturing defects, with affected jars identifiable by white stickers with red circles on their bases. Austrian police in Burgenland are investigating the incident and seeking public information while Spar offers full refunds for returned products. The recall affects only HiPP products sold through Spar stores in Austria, with the company's baby formula and products sold elsewhere remaining unaffected.

HiPP baby food contamination and recall in Austria

• ▪The HiPP baby food recall in Austria includes jars sold in Eurospar, Interspar and Maximarkt shops.
• ▪HiPP baby food products that may have been tampered with can be identified by a white sticker with a red circle on their base.
• ▪Police in Austria's eastern Burgenland region are seeking information from the public about the HiPP baby food contamination issue.
• ▪HiPP products sold in countries other than Austria were not affected by the contamination issue.
• ▪HiPP stated that a hazardous substance may have been introduced into the baby food jars due to external influence.
• ▪HiPP pulled its entire baby food range from more than 1,500 Spar shops across Austria as a precautionary measure.
• ▪HiPP recalled its entire range of jarred purées sold in Spar supermarkets in Austria over contamination fears.
• ▪HiPP's carrot and potato baby food jars may have been tampered with, making consuming them potentially life-threatening.

Previous baby formula contamination incidents in 2024

• ▪Nestle and Danone baby formula recalls in January and February 2024 occurred after babies fell ill.
• ▪At least 36 infants in Britain suffered food poisoning due to contaminated baby formula as of February 2024.
• ▪None of the 36 infants in Britain who suffered food poisoning from contaminated baby formula had life-threatening conditions.
• ▪HiPP's baby formula was unaffected by the January and February 2024 contamination incidents involving Nestle and Danone.
• ▪Nestle and Danone issued recalls of their baby formula brands in more than 60 countries in January and February 2024.

Perspective of HiPP

• ▪HiPP implemented a precautionary recall across more than 1,500 Spar stores despite contamination being confirmed in only specific jars.

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