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.

A new global report has found that exposure to polluted air significantly increases the risk of developing and dying from a range of cancers, prompting renewed calls for stricter air quality standards worldwide.

The study, led by the Union for International Cancer Control with support from the Clean Air Fund, analysed findings from 42 meta-analyses and systematic reviews published between 2019 and 2024. Researchers concluded that air pollution is not only a major cause of lung cancer but is also strongly linked to other forms of the disease, including liver, breast, colorectal, kidney and bladder cancers.

According to the report, fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 poses the greatest threat. People exposed to high levels of these particles face an 11 percent higher overall risk of developing cancer compared to those in cleaner environments. Long-term exposure was also associated with a 12 percent increase in cancer-related deaths, with particularly sharp rises seen in breast, liver and lung cancer mortality.

Larger particles, classified as PM10, were also found to increase cancer risks. Exposure to these pollutants was linked to a 10 percent rise in overall cancer risk and higher death rates from both lung and breast cancers.

Experts behind the report stressed that the impact of air pollution extends far beyond respiratory illnesses. Helen Clark, co-chair of the Our Common Air initiative, said clean air should be treated as a fundamental human right tied to health, equality and sustainable development.

The findings also highlight significant inequalities in exposure and health outcomes. Women and children are often more vulnerable due to reliance on solid fuels for cooking and heating in many parts of the world. The report found that women exposed to household air pollution face a 69 percent higher risk of lung cancer, along with increased risks of other diseases.

Communities in low- and middle-income countries bear the heaviest burden, as they are more likely to experience higher pollution levels while having limited access to healthcare. The report noted that disparities also exist within wealthier regions, with poorer communities often facing greater exposure to polluted environments.

Cary Adams said that while progress has been made in reducing cancer deaths globally, air pollution continues to undermine these gains. He described it as a risk that individuals cannot avoid and one that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.

The report calls for stronger action to address the issue, including improved air quality monitoring and stricter environmental regulations. Elisabete Weiderpass of the International Agency for Research on Cancer said more research is needed to better understand how pollution contributes to cancers beyond the lungs, but added that existing evidence already justifies immediate action.

Researchers warned that reducing air pollution could have wide-ranging health benefits, including lowering rates of cancer as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, reinforcing the urgency of tackling the problem.