An Austrian baby food supplier has initiated a recall of an entire product line after authorities detected possible contamination with rat poison. The company, HiPP, announced the recall on Monday, citing concerns that the “HiPP Carrot/Potato 190 grams” jars available at SPAR stores in Austria might have been deliberately tampered with, potentially introducing a hazardous substance.

Officials warned consumers not to eat the product, which is identifiable by a white label featuring a red circle on the bottom of the jar. The recall extends to all baby food jars from this product line sold at SPAR outlets across Austria.

Austria’s food safety agency confirmed that local police are investigating the incident, with suspicions pointing to an extortion attempt linked to the contamination. Authorities have not disclosed details regarding any suspects but have urged the public, especially those in the eastern Burgenland region, to provide any information that might assist the investigation.

Further complicating the situation, contaminated jars have reportedly been found beyond Austria’s borders. The national food safety authority confirmed that affected products were discovered in two Tesco stores in the neighboring Czech Republic, underscoring the cross-border distribution of the tainted goods.

At this stage, there have been no reported cases of illness related to the suspected contamination. Nonetheless, officials stress the seriousness of the threat, given the potential lethality of the substance involved.

The company and authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while working to trace and contain any affected products in the supply chain. Investigations remain ongoing as police seek to identify the individuals responsible for the tampering and prevent any further risks to public health.