Authorities in Central Europe have ordered the recall of baby food products from organic manufacturer HiPP after several jars were found to contain a toxic substance believed to be rodenticide, raising serious safety concerns.

The affected products, 190-gram jars of carrot and potato baby food intended for infants aged five months and older, were sold through SPAR stores in Austria and distributed in parts of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Austrian officials confirmed the contamination on April 19, following initial positive test results a day earlier.

Investigators believe the case is the result of deliberate tampering rather than a failure in manufacturing. In a statement, HiPP said the products left its facilities in proper condition and described the incident as a “criminal act” currently under investigation.

The alert was triggered after a customer reported a jar that appeared to have been interfered with. So far, no cases of consumption or illness linked to the contaminated products have been reported.

Police in Austria’s Burgenland region have urged parents to examine any recently purchased jars. Warning signs include damaged or already-opened lids, unusual smells, missing sealing “pop” sounds when opened, and suspicious markings such as a white sticker with a red circle on the base.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety said the substance detected is likely bromadiolone, a chemical commonly used in rat poison. It works by preventing blood from clotting and can lead to internal bleeding, posing a serious risk, especially to infants.

Health officials warned that symptoms may not appear immediately, with signs potentially emerging between two and five days after ingestion. These may include bleeding gums, nosebleeds, unexplained bruising, or blood in stool. Treatment is available and typically involves administering vitamin K.

As a precaution, HiPP has recalled all its baby food jars from SPAR outlets in Austria, including EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores. Customers have been advised to return the products for a full refund, with no receipt required.

Retailers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic have also removed HiPP baby food products from shelves, although no further confirmed contamination cases have been reported in those countries.

The investigation into the source of the tampering remains ongoing, with no suspects identified so far.

The incident comes amid heightened concern over infant food safety. Earlier this year, companies including Nestlé and Danone issued widespread recalls of baby formula products after reports of contamination and illness affecting children in multiple countries.

Authorities across Europe are continuing to monitor the situation closely as efforts intensify to ensure consumer safety and identify those responsible.

OpenAI has introduced a new artificial intelligence model aimed at transforming scientific work in biology and medicine, as the company expands its focus on healthcare innovation.

The model, called GPT-Rosalind, is designed to assist researchers in areas such as drug discovery, translational medicine and broader life sciences. It is named after Rosalind Franklin, whose work was key to understanding the structure of DNA.

According to OpenAI, the new system is built to handle complex scientific workflows, including analysing biological data, reviewing research literature and planning experiments. The company said the model performs particularly well in tasks that require reasoning across molecules, proteins, genes and disease-related processes.

Artificial intelligence is already playing a growing role in the pharmaceutical industry, helping scientists identify promising compounds more quickly and reduce the time needed to bring treatments from early research to clinical use. OpenAI said GPT-Rosalind aims to go further by helping researchers uncover patterns and connections that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“Advanced AI systems can help scientists move through complex workflows faster and explore more possibilities,” the company said in its announcement, adding that the tool is intended to improve both efficiency and the quality of scientific insights.

The model is also designed to integrate with scientific tools and databases, allowing it to support multi-step processes such as data analysis, sequence interpretation and experimental design. This capability is expected to make it useful for teams handling large volumes of biological information.

OpenAI is already working with several major organisations to apply the technology in real-world research settings. These include Moderna, Amgen, Allen Institute and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Stéphane Bancel said the model is already helping scientific teams process complex data and translate findings into experimental workflows. He noted that the technology could accelerate research and development efforts within the company.

The launch follows a broader push by OpenAI to deepen its involvement in life sciences. Earlier this month, the company announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk to support the development of new treatments using AI tools.

Sam Altman said artificial intelligence has the potential to reshape the healthcare sector by enabling faster innovation and improving patient outcomes. Pilot programmes using GPT-Rosalind are expected to roll out across research, manufacturing and commercial operations, with wider integration planned by the end of the year.

The release signals growing competition among technology firms to apply AI in scientific discovery, an area seen as one of the most promising frontiers for the technology.

Moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of mental health disorders, according to new research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

The study found that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day was linked to a lower likelihood of developing conditions such as anxiety and depression. However, higher intake — particularly five or more cups daily — was associated with an increased risk, suggesting that balance is key.

Researchers analysed data from more than 460,000 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank, a large long-term study tracking individuals aged between 40 and 69. Participants provided detailed information about their coffee habits, including the type of coffee consumed, such as instant, ground, or decaffeinated. They were followed for an average of 13.4 years.

The findings revealed what scientists described as a “J-shaped” relationship. People who consumed moderate amounts of coffee appeared to benefit the most, while those who drank little or excessive amounts did not experience the same protective effect. The association between coffee intake and reduced risk of mood disorders was found to be more pronounced in men.

The researchers noted that growing attention is being paid to the role of diet in mental health. With mental disorders affecting more than one billion people globally, the World Health Organization has identified conditions such as depression and anxiety as leading causes of long-term disability.

The study suggests that certain compounds found in coffee may help explain the observed link. Coffee contains a wide range of bioactive substances, including caffeine, polyphenols, melanoidins and diterpenes. These compounds are believed to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

According to the authors, caffeine may influence brain function through multiple pathways. It can activate receptors associated with improved mood while blocking others linked to stress-related neural dysfunction. These mechanisms may contribute to a lower risk of mental health conditions among moderate coffee drinkers.

Previous research has also connected coffee consumption with slower cognitive decline and a reduced risk of neurological disorders, adding to interest in its potential health benefits.

Despite the findings, researchers caution that coffee consumption alone should not be seen as a solution to mental health challenges. They stress the importance of broader lifestyle and medical approaches, while highlighting the need for further studies to better understand how dietary habits influence mental well-being.

The results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that everyday dietary choices may play a role in long-term mental health outcomes.