Austrian police arrest suspect after rat poison found in baby food

A man has been arrested in Austria following the discovery of rat poison in a popular brand of baby food, according to Al Jazeera.

The detention comes after Swiss manufacturer HiPP last month carried out a partial recall of its products after authorities detected rat poison and an unspecified “toxic additive” in jars of baby food distributed in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

HiPP, which describes itself as the world’s leading organic baby food brand, said at the time that its products were not contaminated during production and that the recall had been triggered by a “criminal act” under investigation by the authorities.

The Sachseln-based company later stated it had been contacted by an extortionist attempting to blackmail the firm.

Police in Austria’s eastern state of Burgenland confirmed on May 3 that a 39-year-old suspect had been arrested in connection with the case.

“However, for tactical investigative reasons, we cannot provide any information about the further steps of the investigation,” Helmut Marban, a spokesperson for the Burgenland Provincial Police Directorate, told Al Jazeera.

Following the discovery of contaminated baby food last month, authorities advised the public to avoid HiPP products with a white sticker featuring a red circle on the base of the jar, as well as items with a damaged lid, a missing safety seal, or an unusual smell.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety also urged anyone experiencing symptoms of poisoning, including bleeding, severe weakness or paleness, to seek medical attention.

According to the agency, rat poison disrupts the body’s ability to use vitamin K, with symptoms typically appearing within two to five days after ingestion.

By Jeyhun Aghazada