Rat poison in baby food spurs recall in multiple European nations
Hipp Organic baby food which is surplus food produce available at The Pantry at St Giles Trust in Camberwell, south London a local food resource center. Picture date: Monday April 24, 2023. (Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rat poison found in jars of baby food in Central Europe over the weekend prompted recalls across multiple countries.
What we know:
The rat poison was first discovered in jars of HiPP brand baby food on Saturday, authorities said. After a sample tested positive in Austria, more positive results were reported in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Authorities believe jars of 190-gram (6.7-ounce) baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-old children were sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria.
What we don't know:
Little information about how the rat poison ended up in the jars has been released; however, the Burgenland (Austria) public prosecutor’s office noted it is investigating the case as an "intentional endangerment of the public." Austrian Health Minister Korinna Schumann echoed that take, telling the Austrian news agency APA, "It is deeply disturbing that someone is apparently willing to endanger the health of babies for criminal motives."
Dig deeper:
HiPP recalled all baby food jars sold at SPAR-owned supermarkets in Austria. The company denied any fault for the tampering, saying the recall "is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition."
What you can do:
The suspicious jars will likely have a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom, Burgenland Police said. Authorities noted the jars may have a damaged or opened lid and an unusual or spoiled smell. Additionally, the lid may not pop when opened.
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The backstory:
Rat poison often contains bromadiolone, which prevents blood from clotting, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety. Ingesting it could lead to bleeding gums and nosebleeds, as well as bruising and blood in the stool. Someone who ingested rat poison may not experience symptoms for two to five days.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.