Consumers worried
The Ministry of Health requests localities to urgently recall and recommend people to stop using the 190 gram jar of HiPP Vegetable Carrot with Potato mixed product due to suspected rat poisoning.
The Ministry of Health also requested provinces and cities to review registration dossiers and self-declare the quality of this brand; and at the same time request e-commerce platforms and retail websites to remove advertisements and stop trading in related products. Violating establishments will be strictly handled. Parents need to check and immediately remove shipments that are in the warning area.
This move comes after the product was recalled at 1,500 SPAR stores in Austria, where the sample tested positive for rat poison. HiPP said it did not rule out the possibility that the product was interfered with from outside after leaving the factory and warned it could threaten the lives of young children.
Products suspected of being interfered with often have white labels with red circles at the bottom, the lid is pried open, damaged or unsealed, and the food inside has a strange smell. According to the Austrian food safety agency, active ingredients in rat poison can cause blood clotting disorders, with signs such as bleeding gums, nosebleeds, bruises or blood in the stools. If children have these symptoms after eating, they need to be taken to a medical facility immediately.
Information that some batches of HiPP weaning jars were recalled due to suspected contamination with rat poison-related substances is causing many families with young children to be confused.
Immediately after the information appeared, many parents expressed their concern on parenting forums and social networks. Many families said they used this product because they trusted the brand, convenience and suitability for young children.
On the association of mothers giving HiPP milk to their children, many people are worried. Ms. Van Anh (Ngoc Ha ward, Hanoi) said: "Previously, I used a 190 gram HiPP carrot and potato-flavored weaning jar for my child for a while. Now I feel extremely worried and insecure.
However, on the association of mothers giving HiPP milk to their children, mothers still turn to other HiPP products, not completely boycotting. Consumers tend to be more cautious when choosing pre-packaged weaning foods, prioritizing carefully checking the origin, expiration date and warning information from the manufacturer or functional agency.
Market reaction
In the market, reactions also occur quite quickly. Some stores and agents proactively review goods, temporarily stop selling related product batches to wait for official announcements.
Even on e-commerce platforms, although there are still HiPP booths, when looking for a 190 gram jar of carrot and potato mix product (HiPP Vegetable Carrot with Potato), many websites announce out of stock or no products.
For example, MBMart's booth has weaning products, but HiPP milk and carrot weaning powder type 250g is also out of stock.
HiPP's booths on e-commerce platforms have dozens of different products, from milk to weaning powder. Immediately after receiving information about the carrot and potato mix product (HiPP Vegetable Carrot with Potato) 190 gram jar suspected of being toxic, other products were still sold normally.
Dr. Chu Quoc Thinh - Acting Director of the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) - recommends that parents should remain calm, follow notices from functional agencies and official distributors to accurately identify shipments subject to recall. If they are using products belonging to the warned batch, families should temporarily stop giving them to children and contact sales points or distributors for handling instructions.
On the side of businesses and distribution units, this is also a test of social responsibility and transparency in business. When there is a warning from management agencies, proactively coordinating to recover, publicize information and support customers will contribute to minimizing damage, as well as strengthening market confidence. Conversely, if there is delay, avoidance or continued circulation of products with a risk of unsafety, the consequences will not only stop at administrative penalties but also seriously affect brand reputation in the long term.
Austrian authorities are investigating suspicions that the HiPP infant food product was intentionally interfered with after some samples in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic tested positive for rat poison.
Suspected contaminated products are weaning feed for children from 5 months old, bottled 190 grams, carrot and potato flavored, sold at the SPAR system in Austria; the first sample was discovered on April 18.
Austrian police warn that suspicious jars often have white labels with red circles at the bottom; consumers also need to pay attention to signs such as the lid being opened, damaged, not making a "bang" sound when opened for the first time or having a strange smell.
According to the Austrian food safety agency, rat poison usually contains bromadiolone, which can cause blood clotting disorders with symptoms such as gumbleeds, nosebleeds, bruises or blood in stools; signs of poisoning may appear after 2–5 days. The case is still under further investigation.
