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Rat Poison Found in HiPP Baby Food Jar in Austria, Police Say
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 19, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 19, 2026
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Quick Summary
Austrian police confirmed that rat poison was found in a jar of HiPP “Carrots and Potatoes” baby food, prompting a precautionary recall of all HiPP jars at SPAR-related supermarkets. The suspect jar was marked with a white sticker bearing a red circle.
Austrian Police Find Rat Poison in HiPP Baby Food Jar, Prompting Recall
By Olivia Le Poidevin
HiPP Baby Food Recall and Investigation Details
Discovery of Contamination
GENEVA, April 19 (Reuters) - Police in Austria said late on Saturday that rat poison was found inside a jar of HiPP baby food, following a recall of the product from more than 1,000 SPAR supermarkets in the country over safety fears.
Police in Burgenland, Austria, said in a statement a sample from one of the 190-gram jars of "Carrots and Potatoes" baby food reported by a customer had tested positive for rat poison.
Company Response and Warnings
HIPP had said on Saturday it could not be ruled out that a dangerous substance was introduced into the product and that its HiPP Vegetable Carrot with Potato jars may have been tampered with.
Consuming the contents of jars could be life-threatening, HiPP said.
Identification of Affected Products
The police statement said the affected jars had a sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar and a lid that had already been opened or damaged or missing a safety seal, or had an unusual smell.
International Investigation and Findings
They said initial lab tests on similar jars seized by police in the Czech Republic and Slovakia showed the presence of a toxic substance. The statement gave no further details.
The police also said authorities in Austria were warned about the risk following investigations in Germany. They provided no further details.
HiPP and SPAR Official Statements
HiPP said on Saturday: "According to our current knowledge, this critical situation involves an external criminal interference that affects the SPAR Austria distribution channel."
HiPP was not immediately available for comment on Sunday.
A SPAR spokesperson told Reuters on Saturday that the product recall was a precautionary measure and affected 1,500 stores in Austria, with no impact on outlets elsewhere.
Customer Advice and Safety Measures
SPAR and HiPP advised customers not to consume the contents of the jars bought from SPAR Austria. They said customers would receive a full refund on returned products.
Police advised customers to wash hands thoroughly if they came into contact with a jar.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Key Takeaways
- •A jar of HiPP “Carrots and Potatoes” (190 g) was confirmed to contain rat poison, triggering a mass recall across SPAR stores in Austria (ages.at).
- •The jar was identifiable by a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom, and there are signs of tampering—opened or damaged lids or missing safety seals (vol.at).
- •Authorities suspect external criminal interference, possibly an extortion attempt, and investigations extend to Czech Republic and Slovakia, with public urged to report suspicious jars (veritas.enc.edu)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Rat poison found in HiPP baby food jar in Austria, police say
1Why was HiPP baby food recalled in Austria?
HiPP baby food was recalled after rat poison was found in a jar sold at SPAR supermarkets, prompting police investigation.
2Which stores were affected by the HiPP baby food recall?
The recall affected over 1,000 SPAR supermarkets in Austria and did not impact outlets in other countries.
3What should customers do if they bought the recalled HiPP baby food?
Customers are advised not to consume the product, return it for a full refund, and wash their hands if they came in contact with a jar.
4How was the rat poison discovered in HiPP baby food?
A customer reported a suspicious jar, which was then tested and found to contain rat poison, leading to further investigation.
5Were other countries affected by this HiPP baby food safety issue?
Similar jars seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia were tested, but the recall directly impacted only Austria.
