Queensland Health has issued an urgent warning after homemade chilli paste products were linked to a cluster of rat poisoning cases in the south-east of the state. Five people from the same geographic area were admitted to hospital in early October with symptoms consistent with exposure to brodifacoum, the active ingredient in rat poison.
Investigations have since revealed that at least three of those affected had consumed homemade, unlabelled chilli paste products. The items identified include a homemade capsicum and chilli paste, and a marinated eggplant containing a similar paste. Samples from these products have tested positive for brodifacoum.
The health authority has warned that the products may still be in circulation in the Logan community, having been either bought or gifted from mid-September 2025 onwards. Chief health officer Dr Catherine McDougall stated that the items are homemade and do not appear to be widely distributed, with availability believed to be very localised.
Residents are being urged to dispose of any such products immediately in a bin, rather than in the garden, to prevent pets from consuming them. Brodifacoum interferes with the body's ability to produce vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting, and ingestion can lead to bleeding complications. Symptoms include bleeding gums, unexplained bruising, blood in urine or stools, and swollen joints.
Dr McDougall said no additional cases of brodifacoum poisoning have been identified since the five were reported, and all five individuals are now well. While the risk to the wider community is believed to be low, people in the Logan area are advised to remain vigilant. The investigation is ongoing.
