A German baby food company has recalled some of its products after samples tested positive for rat poison.
Five jars of tainted baby food have been discovered across three countries in Europe, police in Ingolstadt, Germany, said in an April 20 statement.
The jars were seized before they were consumed, although a sixth tampered jar may still be in circulation in Austria, the agency stated.
Laboratory testing confirmed the jars were laced with rat poison.
Officials said they were investigating the case as an attempted extortion of HiPP International, the baby food’s producer. No contaminated products have been discovered in Germany.
Austrian police have said that, in connection with ongoing investigations in Germany, they were informed that potentially contaminated baby food jars were in Austria, and that police had seized jars in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
They said that the jars tested positive for rat poison and that supermarket chain SPAR Austria has removed all HiPP baby food jars from its shelves.
Retail partners in the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also pulled the baby food from their stores, HiPP said in a statement.
Ingesting rat poison can lead to reduced blood clotting, which can cause symptoms including bleeding in the brain, bleeding gums, bloody stool or urine, vomiting blood, and nosebleeds.
HiPP said that the jars “were tampered with using rat poison by unknown persons.”
The company maintains that the jars left its factory “in perfect condition” and that the recall was prompted by “a criminal act that is being investigated by the authorities.” That criminal act involved “extortion and manipulation,” HiPP said.
“It is deeply disturbing that someone is apparently willing to endanger the health of babies for criminal reasons,” Korinna Schumann, Austria’s health minister, told the Austria Press Agency. “I urge all parents in Austria: Please be especially vigilant now, do not use the affected product, and if in doubt, do not hesitate for a second to seek help.”
How to Recognize Tampered Products
The jars are typically sold sealed. There’s an audible clicking sound when they are opened.The people behind the scheme placed a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the tampered jars, according to police.
HiPP said that people with its products should make sure the seal is intact and that the clicking sound occurs when the product is opened.
Other suspicious signs include damaged lids and unusual or foul odors.
People who detect any signs of damage should not use the products, HiPP said.
