Police in eastern Austria have detained a 39-year-old suspect in connection with the discovery of rat poison in HiPP baby food jars placed on supermarket shelves across central Europe, authorities announced on Sunday.
Arrest and Investigation
The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, working under the direction of prosecutors, confirmed the arrest on Saturday. The suspect is currently being questioned, but officials declined to provide further details at this stage. The Burgenland public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into suspected "intentional endangerment of the public."
The case came to light on April 18 when a customer purchased a tampered jar at a supermarket in Eisenstadt. Authorities later seized five jars before they could be consumed. An expert report on the toxicity of the poison is still pending, according to the Austrian Press Agency (APA).
Recall and Response
HiPP, the baby food manufacturer, recalled all its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria, including SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR, and Maximarkt stores, as a precaution. Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed all HiPP jars from sale. The company expressed "great relief" over the arrest and promised further updates as verified details emerge.
HiPP emphasized that the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on its part, stating that the jars left its facility in "perfect condition." The tampering is believed to have occurred in 190-gram jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes, intended for 5-month-olds.
Public Safety
Police noted that while a customer had reported a jar appearing tampered with, no one consumed the contaminated food. Authorities continue to urge vigilance and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
