The recall occurred after discovering that someone may have added rat poison to sabotage the products, according to AFP. Police are investigating the incident as part of an extortion attempt, and have found rat poison in a sample of Hipp baby food. This criminal interference has triggered a widespread safety alert across Austria and neighboring countries.
The products are manufactured by the company Hipp, which initiated the recall. Jars of Hipp baby food were recalled from 1,500 Spar supermarkets in Austria, multiple reports indicate. The entire Hipp range, not just carrot and potato, was pulled from shelves as a precaution, according to major media sources. German firm Hipp had stressed the issue only impacted jars in Austria, the company said.
The affected products contain carrot and potato. Hipp warns that the poison could be life-threatening if ingested. The company said the jars may have been tampered with, making consuming them potentially life-threatening. A sample from one of the 190-gram carrots and potato jars, reported by a customer, tested positive for the toxic substance according to police in Burgenland.
Police said similar jars have now been seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Police in Austria's Burgenland province seized jars in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia as part of investigations in Germany, according to local police reports. This international seizure highlights the potential cross-border reach of the contamination.
Austrian police found rat poison in a baby food jar on April 18, 2026, according to their research. A sample of the seized product tested positive for rat poison on Saturday afternoon, Austrian police reported. These findings confirmed the presence of a toxic additive, prompting immediate regulatory action.
Initial laboratory tests revealed a toxic additive in these products.
Austria's agency for food protection said rat poison may have been introduced as part of an extortion scheme, according to the agency's research. This criminal motive distinguishes the incident from accidental contamination, raising concerns about deliberate food sabotage. The agency's statement aligns with police investigations into external interference.
Authorities advised that the tampered jars may have a sticker with a red circle on the bottom, a lid that appeared opened or damaged, a missing safety seal or an unusual smell. Police reported that the tampered jars had a spoiled odor. Customers were asked not to consume the product and return it to the store; it can be identified by a white label with a red circle on the bottom of the jar, according to research. These physical indicators help consumers identify potentially dangerous products.
Further investigations are currently being conducted by the Burgenland State Criminal Police Office in cooperation with the Federal Criminal Police Office, multiple reports indicate. This multi-agency cooperation involves forensic analysis and international coordination to trace the source of the contamination. The ongoing work aims to identify perpetrators and prevent further distribution of tainted jars.
The authorities request increased vigilance and prompt reporting of any suspicious observations. Consumers are urged to check baby food jars for signs of tampering and return any suspect products immediately. Retailers have been instructed to remove all Hipp baby food from shelves as a precautionary measure.
The specific type of rat poison found in the baby food jars remains unidentified, and the full scope of contamination beyond Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia is unclear. Authorities have not confirmed how many jars have been contaminated with rat poison. The perpetrator responsible for the extortion attempt and their demands are still under investigation, and no confirmed illnesses or deaths linked to the contaminated baby food have been reported.
Hipp said it cannot be ruled out that a hazardous substance was introduced due to external influence, according to the company. The company added that this critical situation involves an external criminal interference that affects the SPAR Austria distribution channel, based on current knowledge. Police stated that initial laboratory tests revealed a toxic additive in these products. Hipp also confirmed it is recalling the entire range of baby food jars sold at Spar Austria because it cannot be ruled out that a dangerous substance was added to a product containing carrot and potato.