Queensland Health is continuing to work with Queensland Police Service (QPS) to investigate the suspected brodifacoum poisoning cases.
As a result of initial investigations, Queensland Health has issued an alert for people to be aware of two homemade, unlabelled products that may be circulating in the Logan community.
These products are a homemade capsicum and chilli paste and a homemade marinated eggplant containing a capsicum and chilli paste.
These items may have been purchased or gifted in the Logan area from mid-September 2025 onwards.
If people have these products at home, they should be thrown away immediately in the bin.
Photos provided by Queensland Police Service.
Queensland Health is aware that three of the five people who presented last week had consumed these homemade products, and product samples have tested positive for brodifacoum.
Queensland Health has advised the Logan community to be alert for symptoms consistent with brodifacoum poisoning, particularly if they may have consumed products recently matching the description.
Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said that while there does not appear to be broad risk to the community, she wants the community to remain alert.
“No other possible cases of brodifacoum poisoning have been identified since the five individuals were reported last week,” Dr McDougall said.
“The identified products are homemade and do not appear to be widely distributed. It is believed they are available only very locally in the Logan community.
“We do not believe there is a widespread risk to the broader community however we encourage people in the Logan area to be alert.
“The investigation remains ongoing, we are continuing to make further enquiries and will keep the community updated.”
If people believe they may have consumed the identified products or are experiencing bleeding that can’t otherwise be explained, they should visit their local GP, local satellite health centre or urgent care clinic for testing, or call 13 HEALTH for further advice.
If people believe they may have any of the products at home, they are not safe to eat and should be thrown in the bin immediately.
Please do not throw them away in the garden as pets could eat the products.
Brodifacoum is the active ingredient in rat poison that inhibits Vitamin K, which is essential for blood to clot. It can cause bleeding-related complications if ingested by humans.
Brodifacoum poisoning can present with bleeding related symptoms that cannot otherwise be explained. These include:
- Bleeding gums
- Unexplained bruises
- Blood in urine or stool
- Swelling of joints