Comparative expert report in the Hipp case: Seized rat poison resembles the contents of the manipulated jar

However, the public prosecutor's office expressly does not interpret this comparability as proof that it is the same poison. It is merely a further indication in the ongoing proceedings. The comparative analysis was conducted between the rat poison found in the baby food jar and the rat poison seized at the suspect's residential address.

Detention and charges against the 39-year-old

The suspect is a 39-year-old Slovak national who was arrested on 2 May in the province of Salzburg. He has been in pre-trial detention at Eisenstadt correctional facility since the beginning of May and must remain there at least until 19 June. He is charged with attempted grievous bodily harm, attempted grievous extortion, and document forgery.

According to the investigators, the man denies any involvement in the crime. He thus rejects the charges related to the attempted extortion of the company Hipp. The German company had come into the focus of media coverage during the investigations and a public warning after a manipulated baby food jar was discovered.

Substantive assessment of the jar's contents

In terms of content, the now-available expert report on the contents of the jar concludes that the rat poison it contained could have produced harmful health effects in the dosage found, but that the dose was insufficient to be life-threatening. This new toxicological assessment is consistent with initial assessments communicated immediately after the jar was seized in April.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the comparative expert report itself does not fundamentally change the state of evidence. It supports the investigators' existing hypothesis that a connection may exist between the material found with the accused and the crime, but on its own does not provide clear identification of the poison used. Whether further chemical or trace evidence reports will follow was not publicly announced by the prosecution authority.

Status of the proceedings and next steps

The investigation into attempted extortion of baby food manufacturer Hipp is therefore ongoing. The Eisenstadt public prosecutor's office, which is leading the proceedings, referred inquiries to the ongoing case and the existing detention decision. The next judicial detention review is scheduled for 19 June at the latest.

The case attracted attention beyond Austria because it involves a sensitive consumer product and placed the safety of baby food in the spotlight. Hipp itself had reacted after the discovery of the manipulated jar and recalled products to protect consumers. The criminal investigation is now in the hands of the Austrian authorities.

The findings available to date paint a picture of a multi-layered investigation: both trace evidence and toxicological expertise are being deployed, and the accused remains silent on the charges. The public prosecutor's office emphasized that no further statements on the state of evidence could be made until a final expert report and a judicial decision are available.