Vienna: Austrian police have found rat poison in a baby food jar, they said late Saturday, in a probe that has seen the supplier recall the line over suspected tampering.
The Germany-based HiPP brand announced the recall at SPAR supermarkets in Austria late Friday over the possibility that “a hazardous substance” was introduced into its “carrot with potato” puree through tampering.
As part of ongoing investigations in Germany, police have seized jars in Austria, as well as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, police in Austria’s eastern Burgenland province said in a statement.
“A sample of the seized product was examined on Saturday afternoon and tested positive for rat poison,” they said.
Austria’s agency for food protection said on Saturday that rat poison may have been introduced as part of an extortion scheme.
