Authorities in Austria have arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with an extortion attempt against the German baby food manufacturer HiPP, after rat poison was found in several jars of its products.
Arrest and Investigation
The suspect was arrested in the state of Burgenland, according to the APA news agency. His identity has not been disclosed for tactical reasons related to the ongoing investigation. The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, acting under the direction of the prosecutor's office in Eisenstadt, is leading the investigation.
Helmut Marban, spokesperson for the Burgenland Provincial Police Directorate, confirmed the arrest on Sunday and stated that no further details would be released for investigative reasons. The incident is being investigated as suspected "intentional endangerment of the public."
Timeline of Events
- March: An email demanding €2 million ($2.3 million) was sent to HiPP. The company did not notice the email until two weeks after the deadline had passed.
- April 18: A jar of HiPP baby food was purchased in Eisenstadt, Austria. Authorities later found 15 micrograms of an unspecified type of rat poison in a 190-gram jar of "carrots with potatoes" purchased at a Spar supermarket.
- Last Month: Five "manipulated" jars of HiPP baby food were recovered safely in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia before consumption. Authorities are searching for a second potentially poisoned jar in Austria. An expert report on the toxicity of the poison is pending.
Product Recall and Corporate Response
HiPP issued a product recall in Austria for baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets (SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR, Maximarkt). Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed the brand's baby jars from sale. The German product range was not affected.
HiPP stated that the recall was not due to any product or quality defect and that jars left its facility in "perfect condition." The company described itself as a "victim of extortion," noting that an unspecified blackmailer sent a message to a shared mailbox. HiPP, founded over 120 years ago in Bavaria, Germany, is a family-run company. Its German headquarters and main production facility are in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. HiPP Holding AG, the parent company, is based in Sachseln, Switzerland.
Public Health Advisory
Authorities have warned consumers to avoid HiPP products with a white sticker and red circle on the bottom, damaged lids, missing safety seals, or unusual smells.
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety advised seeking medical attention for symptoms of poisoning, such as bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness. Rat poison interferes with vitamin K use, with symptoms typically appearing two to five days after ingestion.