Hackers hit European supermarket fridges, heating food to danger zones
Overnight cyber attack switched refrigeration units to defrost mode across multiple European grocery chains, raising temperatures and spoiling stock.
Supermarket chains in Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden reported a coordinated cyber attack that targeted their fridge and freezer systems overnight. Dutch chain Ahold Delhaize, Belgian grocer Colruyt, Swedish retailers ICA and Coop, and one Ikea store in Belgium all affected.
Hackers switched cooling units into defrost mode, causing temperatures to spike, in some cases to up to 50 degrees Celsius. Ikea reported that some food products had been removed from shelves.
The attack followed a similar incident in France last month, where police said hackers seized control of cooling systems at hundreds of supermarkets. An EU food commissioner called the incidents "a deliberate attempt" to undermine consumer confidence, though stressed there was no current risk to food supply security.
Sweden's cyber security chief said the attacks exposed how many operational technologies in grocery stores remain unprotected.
- Up to 50 degrees Celsius
- Temperature reached
- Ahold Delhaize, Colruyt, ICA, Coop, Ikea
- Chains affected
- Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, France
- Countries hit
Why it mattersThe attack shows supermarket supply chains are vulnerable to hackers disrupting food storage and spoiling stock, threatening both profits and public confidence in food safety.
AustraliaAustralia's major supermarket chains use similar remote-controlled refrigeration systems, raising questions about whether local stores face the same exposure.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
