Police in Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia are investigating the poisoning of Hipp baby food with rat poison, with a potential extortion attempt suspected.
Police Investigation Launched Across Multiple Countries
Police in Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia are searching for a suspected blackmailer who poisoned Hipp brand baby food. The investigation extends to Germany, with criminal police from Ingolstadt, Upper Bavaria, also involved, though products sold in Germany are not currently affected.
Austrian police are urgently seeking a second 190-gram jar of “Carrot and Potato” baby food contaminated with rat poison, similar to one found on Saturday (April 18, 2026) in the Burgenland region, southeast of Vienna. Initial reports suggest the Hipp company, founded in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria, is being extorted, though Ingolstadt police have not confirmed this.
Warning to Parents
Police are urging parents to check for tampered baby food jars, identifiable by damaged lids lacking the typical “click” when opened, and a white sticker with a red ring on the bottom of the container.
No Threat to Products Outside Investigation Area
Hipp spokesperson Clemens Preysing assured that products and distribution channels in Germany and other European countries not included in the investigation are not at risk. He confirmed that contaminated jars have also been found in Czechia and Slovakia, prompting retailers in those countries to withdraw all Hipp products as a precaution.
Preysing stated that the incident is a “criminal interference” unrelated to product quality or the production process.
Likely Only Two Contaminated Jars
Bavarian police indicate the search in Austria is focused on two federal states: Burgenland and Upper Austria. The Ingolstadt criminal police are leading and coordinating the investigation, maintaining close contact with the company.
Austrian police are also limiting information release, stating the priority is to locate and remove the contaminated jar. They believe it is likely only the second jar, but cannot rule out further tampering.
Information Originates from Germany, Czech Investigation Underway
Information regarding the compromised jars reportedly originated in Germany. The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Brno, Czechia, has launched an investigation, but assesses the threat to Czechia as “low.”
Life-Threatening Hazard and Product Recall
On Friday evening (April 17, 2026), Hipp recalled all products from Spar supermarkets in Austria, warning that consuming a contaminated jar could be life-threatening. A suspicious jar, unopened, was delivered by a customer in Schützen am Gebirge (Eisenstadt-Umgebung district) and analysis confirmed the presence of rat poison.
Extortion Suspected, Potential Health Effects
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (Ages) suggests an attempted extortion of the manufacturer. They warn that the active substances in rat poison can cause reduced blood clotting, potentially leading to gum bleeding, nosebleeds, bruising, or blood in stool. Parents should seek immediate medical attention if their child exhibits these symptoms after consuming Hipp products.
The company was founded over 120 years ago in Pfaffenhofen, with the Hipp Holding AG headquarters now located in Sachseln, in the Swiss canton of Obwalden.