Austria rocked by food safety scare after rat poison found in infant food
Rat poison found in baby food (photo: Getty Images)
Rat poison has been found in HiPP baby food in Austria, prompting a product recall from stores, while authorities are investigating possible external tampering, The Guardian reports.
The incident occurred after a customer reported a suspicious product. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of a toxic substance in a jar of baby food containing carrots and potatoes.
Following this, the products were removed from more than a thousand Spar supermarkets across Austria.
How to spot a counterfeit
Police said the dangerous jars can be identified by several signs: a red circle sticker on the bottom, a damaged or previously opened lid, the absence of a safety seal, or an unusual smell.
Preliminary lab tests of similar jars seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia also detected a toxic substance.
At the same time, Austrian law enforcement said the risks became known following investigations in Germany.
HiPP's response
The company said it does not rule out external interference.
"According to our current knowledge, this critical situation involves an external criminal interference that affects the Spar Austria distribution channel," the company said.
The manufacturer also warned that consuming the contents of such jars could pose a life-threatening risk.
Separately, Europe intensifies debate over how to protect children from the impact of social media. Several countries are considering restricting minors' access to such platforms.
In particular, related initiatives are being prepared or are under parliamentary review in Slovenia, Poland, Austria, and France.
Meanwhile, Greece plans to introduce a ban for children under 15 starting January 1, 2027. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Athens aims not only to pass its own law but also to encourage similar measures across the European Union.
