German baby food manufacturer HiPP has said it is the victim of blackmail following the discovery of contaminated baby food jars in Austria and neighbouring countries.
Over the weekend, jars of baby food containing rat poison were identified in Austria, as well as in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Austria’s food safety agency AGES issued a public warning, and at least one supermarket chain initiated a product recall.
In a statement released on 20 April, HiPP said the incident is linked to a blackmail attempt. According to the company, the perpetrator sent a message to a general, non-personalised inbox, which is checked periodically as part of standard procedures. Once the message was identified, HiPP said it immediately informed the relevant police authorities and established an internal crisis team.
The company stated that it has taken measures to protect consumers and is working closely with authorities, including in its public communication.
HiPP stressed that the incident is not related to its product quality or production processes. It described the case as a “criminal external manipulation” that occurred outside the company’s control in the affected markets. At this stage, the company said it has no information indicating further tampering cases.
Due to the ongoing investigation, HiPP noted that it is currently only able to share confirmed information approved by authorities. It added that updates will be provided as new verified details become available.
For details related to the investigation, the company referred to statements from the responsible police authorities, including the Polizeipräsidium Oberbayern Nord.
Authorities continue to investigate the source of the contamination and the identity of those responsible.
As a general precaution, HiPP advises consumers to check that packaging is intact, ensure that jar seals are undamaged, and avoid using any products that show irregularities.
How to identify affected products
According to current findings, suspicious products may have the following characteristics:
• White sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar
• Already opened or damaged lid
• Missing safety seal (no “pop” sound when first opened)
• Unusual or spoiled smell (according to witness reports)
21.04.2026.
