Attempted blackmail denounced the company HiPP baby food, after a jar of baby food contaminated with rat poison, was found in Austria.
«HiPP is a blackmail victim.», says in a communication the company, with its annex to Greece, however, to note that the recall of products to which other countries have moved because of the incident does not concern ours.
HiPP baby food jars purchased by SPAR Austria are currently recalled preventively, causing concern to many parents.
The infected jar and search for deliberate attempt
A jar of 190 grams of HiPP baby food with carrot and potato, contaminated with rat poison, was confiscated at the weekend in the Burgenland district of Austria. At least two such jars are believed to have been allocated to this region and one is still urgently sought.
Police in the city of Ingolstat, Bavaria announced that five contaminated infant food jars were found in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
HiPP stated that the blackmailer sent a message to a general group e-mail that, in the ordinary process, is only controlled over longer periods.
The company made known that it informed police and authorities, as soon as the issue was informed, and created an internal team to deal with the crisis.
Neither the police nor the company have revealed what the blackmailer wants.
Austrian prosecutors said they are conducting investigations into a deliberate attempt to endanger the public.
Preliminary toxicological check found the presence of rat poison in the jar located in Austria, while further controls are to determine the dose and potential risk if consumed.
HiPP pointed out that the incident is not in any way linked to the quality of its products nor to their preparation and described it as «external criminal intervention».
HiPP spokesman Clemens Praising confirmed to the German Agency that contaminated baby food jars were found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Retail outlets in these countries withdrew all HiPP jars from the shelves for precautionary reasons, he added.
HiPP, a family company, was founded more than 120 years ago in Bavaria, Germany. Today its headquarters are located in Shahseln, in the Obvalden district of Switzerland.
«Greece is not affected» – What is mentioned in the announcement
By its announcement the company's branch in Greece notes that the incident does not in any way concern our country.
In particular, the relevant communication states:
The withdrawal concerns specific HiPP baby food jars purchased by SPAR Austria.
The HiPP product range in Greece is not affected by the recall.
The recall is not due to a defect of product or quality on our part. The jars left the HiPP factory in excellent condition.
The revocation is linked to a criminal action under investigation by the authorities.
The company asks consumers to be particularly careful and repeats the general recommendation for both HiPP and baby food:
Always check the integrity of the packaging.
Especially for jars, make sure that the air gap has not been broken (the characteristic sound «pop» and do not use products showing any unusual indication.
