Safety Alert: Rat Poison Found in HiPP Baby Food in Austria

Mon Apr 20 2026 12:23:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Authorities in Austria have issued a warning after finding rat poison in a jar of HiPP baby food. Parents are advised to check their baby food supplies for signs of tampering.

Police in Burgenland, Austria, reported that a jar of HiPP carrot and potato purée was found to contain rat poison, leading to a country-wide recall of the product. The jar appeared to have been tampered with, and authorities believe more contaminated jars may be in circulation. Parents are urged to inspect jars for damage and tampering, and to consult doctors if any health concerns arise in infants who may have consumed the product.

Police in Austria have urged people to be vigilant after a sample of HiPP baby food was found to contain rat poison.

The police in the eastern region of Burgenland stated that the poisoned jar of carrot and potato purée had been reported by a customer, who fortunately had not given it to their baby.

The jar had apparently been tampered with, and police believe at least one more poisoned jar is in circulation, urging consumers on how to recognize tampered jars.

While no confirmation has been made regarding an alleged extortion attempt, police mentioned that the warning stemmed from German investigators, who have also seized tampered jars in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In response to the situation, HiPP recalled all jarred purées sold in Spar supermarkets across Austria, deeming consumption potentially life-threatening. The company clarified that the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on their part, as jars had reportedly left the factory in perfect condition.

The recall is linked to ongoing criminal investigations, and as part of this, isolated cases of tampered HiPP baby food jars have been seized, confirming the presence of rat poison upon examination.

Spar has proactively removed the affected baby food from its stores, and consumers are advised to check for damaged lids, missing safety seals, unusual odors, or a white sticker with a red circle at the bottom of the jars.

Parents are warned to consult doctors if their babies exhibit signs of bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness after consuming the brand's food. A total of 1,500 Spar shops operate in Austria, and other retailers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also removed HiPP baby food as a precaution.

This alarming incident comes just months after other baby brands, including Nestlé and Danone, faced significant recalls over contamination fears linked to their infant formulas.