Austrian police have confirmed that rat poison was discovered in a jar of HiPP, a well-known baby food brand. The incident has triggered a nationwide emergency, resulting in the removal of products from more than 1,000 Spar supermarkets.
According to Burgenland police, laboratory testing conducted after a consumer report revealed the toxic substance in a 190-gram jar (carrots and potatoes). HiPP stated that the incident involves “external criminal interference,” referring to the intentional tampering and poisoning of products.
To identify potentially dangerous jars, consumers are urged to exercise extreme caution. Suspicious products feature a distinctive red, circular sticker on the bottom. Additionally, any jar with a damaged lid, a missing safety seal, or an unusual odor should be treated as suspect.
The Friedrichshafen Incident
The investigation is currently pursuing several leads. One theory suggests that this act may be part of an economic blackmail plot. There is already a precedent for such a crime in Europe: during the so-called “Friedrichshafen incident” in Germany in 2017, a perpetrator demanded 11 million euros from retail chains. To prove the seriousness of the threat, he placed baby food jars poisoned with ethylene glycol (a toxic antifreeze) on supermarket shelves.
That incident led to a massive product recall and widespread public panic. However, law enforcement quickly identified and arrested the suspect using CCTV footage, preventing casualties and further escalation. Both cases demonstrate that criminal groups often employ such methods to exert pressure on manufacturers.
A German court sentenced the 54-year-old man responsible for the Friedrichshafen incident to 12 years and 6 months in prison. Prosecutors proved five counts of attempted murder and aggravated extortion, as the amount of the substance mixed into the food was sufficient to be lethal to a child. Despite defense attempts to attribute the crime to a mental disorder or alcohol intoxication, a psychiatric evaluation determined that the perpetrator was fully aware of his actions and the gravity of their consequences.
The current investigation is cross-border in nature. According to preliminary tests, traces of toxic substances were also detected in jars seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Because consuming these products is life-threatening, the manufacturer and retail chains are urging customers to return purchased items immediately for a full refund and to avoid physical contact with suspicious packaging.
