Austria arrests suspect in baby food poison case

May 4, 2026

Summary

Austrian police arrested a suspect after rat poison was found in tampered HiPP baby food jars sold in central Europe.

Why this matters

The case prompted recalls in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic and raised concerns about product tampering in baby food sold at major supermarket chains. Consumers and retailers may need to monitor recall notices and police updates.

Police in eastern Austria said a 39-year-old suspect was arrested after rat poison was found in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe.

The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, acting under prosecutors’ direction, said the investigation began after poison was found in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in Eisenstadt on April 18.

The Austrian Press Agency reported that an expert report on the poison’s toxicity was pending. It said five tampered baby food jars were seized before they could be consumed.

Authorities previously said they believed the tampering involved 190-gram (6.7-ounce) jars of carrot-and-potato baby food for 5-month-olds sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria.

HiPP recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic after the case emerged last month. The company said Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest and would provide further updates as verified details became available.

As a precaution, HiPP recalled all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria, including SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR, and Maximarkt stores. Retailers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed all HiPP baby jars from sale.

The company said the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on its part and that the jars left its facility in “perfect condition.”

Police said a customer reported at the time of the discovery that a jar appeared to have been tampered with, but no one consumed the baby food.

HiPP, based in Pfaffenhofen, Germany, said it had been a “victim of extortion,” adding that an unspecified “blackmailer” sent a message to a shared mailbox in the case, prompting the company to inform police.

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