BURGENLAND — Police in Burgenland, Austria, arrested a 39-year-old suspect in connection with the contamination of HiPP baby food jars with rat poison and a toxic additive, a spokesperson said. The arrest follows a partial recall issued last month by the Swiss company after authorities found the contaminants in jars sold in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Helmut Marban, spokesperson for the Burgenland Provincial Police Directorate, said officers were limited in what they could disclose. "However, for tactical investigative reasons, we cannot provide any information about the further steps of the investigation," Marban said.

HiPP, which bills itself as the world's top organic baby food brand, said its products were not tainted during production and that the recall had been prompted by a criminal act under investigation by the authorities. The company said it had been contacted by an extortionist seeking to blackmail the company.

Authorities advised the public to avoid HiPP products featuring a white sticker with a red circle on the bottom of the jar, a damaged lid, a missing safety seal or a strange smell. The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety advised anyone experiencing symptoms of poisoning, including bleeding, extreme weakness or paleness, to consult a medical professional.

Rat poison interferes with the body's use of vitamin K, and symptoms typically appear two to five days after ingestion, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety. The agency noted that contaminated jars were sold across three countries before the recall was initiated.