Police in Austria arrested a 39-year-old suspect on 3/5 in connection with an extortion attempt targeting the baby food manufacturer HiPP, Austrian national broadcaster ORF reported. The suspect's identity remains undisclosed due to the ongoing investigation.
Police records indicate the incident came to light at a supermarket in Eisenstadt, the state capital, after a customer reported signs of product tampering. Authorities identified the affected products as 190-gram jars of carrot and potato baby food for 5-month-old infants, sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria. An anonymous individual had previously sent a message threatening to poison these product batches, demanding money from the manufacturer.
On 20/4, HiPP publicly disclosed the extortion attempt, forming an internal crisis team and reporting the incident to the police. To ensure consumer safety, the company immediately recalled all products from SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR, and Maximarkt retail chains across Austria. Distributors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also simultaneously removed the brand's products from their shelves.
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Affected HiPP baby food jars are 190-gram size for 5-month-old infants, containing carrots and potatoes. *Photo: APA* |
The coordinated international investigation later discovered a total of 5 food jars showing signs of tampering. Tests on one jar of "carrot and potato" baby food seized in Austria revealed it contained 15 micrograms of rat poison. Helmut Marban, a spokesperson for Burgenland State Police, stated that authorities are still searching for another potentially contaminated jar previously sold at the same supermarket chain, but its location remains unknown.
A SPAR supermarket chain representative confirmed to Reuters that the comprehensive recall across 1,500 stores in Austria was an emergency precautionary measure. The representative emphasized that the recall did not stem from any production errors or quality deficiencies from the company, stating that all batches leave the factory in perfect condition. Customers who purchased HiPP products at SPAR are strongly advised not to use them and to return them to the store for a 100% refund.
Authorities are currently determining the danger posed by the poison's dosage to young children's bodies. This information will strengthen the case for potential charges of "willful endangerment of the public" and "willful grievous bodily harm."
It is currently unclear why rat poison appeared in the HiPP baby food products. Vietnam's Ministry of Health has urgently requested localities to recall and advised people to stop using HiPP carrot and potato baby food jars due to suspected rat poison contamination.
The HiPP incident occurs as the baby food market recently experienced upheavals earlier this year. Manufacturers had to recall powdered milk in over 60 countries after many children showed symptoms of poisoning from Cereulide toxin, a toxin not destroyed by cooking temperatures.
*Binh Minh (According to ORF, Spiegel)*
