Cyber Attack Disrupts Refrigeration Systems in French Supermarkets, Spoiling Millions in Food

A large-scale cyberattack has impacted hundreds of French supermarkets, causing refrigeration units to malfunction and raise temperatures, resulting in spoilage of fresh and frozen food valued at millions of euros.

Investigations suggest hackers infiltrated the control systems managing refrigeration temperatures, forcing certain units to reach as high as 50°C (120°F) overnight.

Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, described the incident as an ‘extremely serious and unprecedented’ attack on multiple store locations.

Over 100 Coopérative U locations were targeted, and at least 300 Intermarché and Netto-branded stores were also affected, per AFP reports.

Intermarché reported that its refrigeration units reached 50°C for six hours overnight into Monday, leading to the disposal of all compromised food products to prevent health risks, as reported by Reuters.

Staff at affected supermarkets described encountering intense heat when opening freezer units on Monday morning.

French broadcaster BFMTV released an image showing a freezer in an ice cream aisle displaying a temperature of 26.5°C, highlighting the malfunction.

Two supermarkets in the Alsace region reported losses of €270,000 (£228,000) combined, indicating potential nationwide losses in the millions, according to the broadcaster.

The Paris prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation into the incident, labeling it a ‘large-scale cyberattack affecting refrigeration systems of several major French retail chains,’ as reported by AFP.

European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen condemned the cyberattack on social media, emphasizing that ‘food security requires heightened attention at all levels, as the weaponization of food has become a reality.’

The full extent of the attack remains under investigation.

Specialist and local media reports indicate additional attacks on Carrefour, E.Leclerc, and Monoprix stores. BBC News has reached out to these retailers for further details.

Dominique Schelcher stated on social media that staff are ‘fully mobilized and working with refrigeration specialists to restore operations as swiftly as possible.’

He urged for a thorough investigation and condemned the targeting of critical food supply infrastructure as ‘unacceptable.’

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