As Food Manufacture understands, several meat suppliers have been impacted by a suspected cyberattack, all experiencing issues with their refrigeration. One reported that their system’s cycle had been adjusted so the defrost setting went off every hour.
Meanwhile, supermarket fridges and freezers across Europe, including stores in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands and Estonia, have also relayed similar issues.
According to reports, fridge and freezer temperatures were increased to around 50C.
Writing on Facebook, Swedish supermarket ICA Kvantum Sjöbo said: “Our refrigerators and freezers have been hacked overnight and they have set the temperature to 50 degrees.”
It added in a more recent update that is has thrown affected products out due to food safety concerns: “We simply do not know how our refrigerators and freezers have behaved overnight and early in the morning” and is now focused on “getting everything back on track”.
Commenting on the suspected attack, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) said: “Our view is that when the hackers have decided to target European Supermarkets and a few of our 300+ members who operate the same software have unexpectedly become ‘collateral’ within the hack.
“None who have been affected have lost any meat but once again this must act as a reminder to all in the food industry at whatever point in the supply chain they are that their businesses may be seen by some as targets. We urge our members and the wider industry to vigilant.”
AIMS says it has contacted the National Cyber Security Centre which has said it is “currently monitoring the issue”.
This latest incident highlights the need for preparedness against cyberattacks, added Andy Richardson, partner at UK based supply chain consultancy, European Food and Farming Partnerships (EFFP).
“This latest incident clearly demonstrates that cyber attacks are becoming more and more likely and their impact on businesses are becoming more profound,” he said.
“They reinforce the importance of investing now to ensure business have robust, tested and effective cyber strategies and back up plans in place”
