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Arrest made in contaminated baby food case
A 39-year-old man was detained in Austria on Saturday in connection with the deliberate poisoning of jars of baby food, police confirmed.
Poisoned jars discovered across three countries
Two weeks ago, rat poison was detected in a jar of carrot and potato purée in the eastern Austrian state of Burgenland. The discovery led German manufacturer HiPP to recall an entire product line.
Five tainted jars were recovered in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia before any could be consumed, authorities said.
Extortion attempt went unnoticed
Austria's Die Presse reported that HiPP received an email demanding €2 million (£1.73 million) in exchange for halting the contamination. The ransom note, sent on 27 March, gave the company six days to pay.
The firm's CEO told the newspaper the message was sent to an email address checked only every two to three weeks, meaning the deadline passed before it was seen.
Investigation ongoing, one jar still missing
Burgenland police spokesperson Helmut Marban told the BBC that details about the suspect and the arrest remain confidential while the investigation continues.
Authorities believe at least one more poisoned jar is still unaccounted for and have issued safety advice for consumers.
How to identify tampered jars
Parents and caregivers are advised to check for:
- Damaged or open lids
- A missing safety seal
- An unusual or spoiled odour
- A white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety urged parents whose children had consumed HiPP products to seek medical attention if symptoms such as bleeding, extreme weakness, or paleness appeared.
