A criminal is blackmailing baby food manufacturer HiPP after contaminating carrot and potato puree with rat poison, impacting several European countries.
HiPP Targeted by Extortionist with Rat Poison
An extortionist poisoned baby food jars from HiPP with rat poison, launching a criminal attack against the company. The toxic substance was found in popular “Carrot and Potato” jars, prompting immediate action from authorities and the manufacturer across multiple European nations.
HiPP Breaks Silence: Confirms Criminal Attack
HiPP confirmed it was the target of a criminal attack after receiving an extortion threat via a rarely used email address. The company immediately alerted police and formed a crisis management team, prioritizing consumer protection and cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Extortionist’s Message Received Through General Email
The extortionist contacted HiPP through a general email inbox, not used for individual correspondence and periodically checked according to established procedures. Upon discovering the message, the company immediately informed the police and established an internal crisis management team.
HiPP Maintains Quality Control Systems are Intact
HiPP insists its quality control systems are functioning correctly and that the incident is a direct attack on the brand and consumer safety. The company emphasizes the incident is unrelated to the quality of its products.
External Criminal Manipulation Behind Contamination
The current situation is the result of external criminal manipulation beyond HiPP’s control in three European markets. The company states it has no knowledge of further incidents and will only release verified information approved by authorities.
HiPP: Contamination is Manipulation, Not Production Error
HiPP clarified that the contamination was not a production error but a deliberate act of manipulation by the extortionist.
Discovery of Contamination in Austria
The discovery began when a resident of Eisenstadt, Austria, alerted authorities after noticing a suspicious substance in their child’s meal, as reported by BBC News.
Laboratory Tests Confirm Poisoning
Laboratory analysis confirmed the product’s composition had been altered, revealing the presence of toxic rat poison in the HiPP carrot and potato jar. Contaminated batches were immediately withdrawn from sale, initially detected in products sold at Spar stores.
How to Identify Contaminated HiPP Jars
Police and HiPP experts are urging parents to check every package before serving. Key indicators to look for include [details not provided in source].
International Investigation Launched: Is Poland Safe?
The threat extends beyond Austria, with similar cases of toxic substances detected in HiPP products reported in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Austrian police are also linking the case to a broader investigation in Germany. Currently, there is no reported threat in Poland.
