A view of HIPP baby food on a shelf, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stanislav Hodina) (AP)
A 39-year-old suspect has been arrested in eastern Austria after rat poison was discovered in HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves.
The investigation began after poison was found in a baby food jar purchased in Eisenstadt on 18 April, leading to an inquiry into suspected "intentional endangerment of the public."
HiPP had previously recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic as a precautionary measure.
Authorities confirmed that five tampered baby food jars were seized before consumption, with no one reported to have eaten the contaminated product.
HiPP stated it was a "victim of extortion," having received a message from an unspecified "blackmailer" before alerting the police.
