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”.
Offering his thoughts on this latest round of suspected attacks, partner at UK based supply chain consultancy, European Food and Farming Partnerships (EFFP), Andy Richardson said: “This latest incident clearly demonstrates that cyber-attacks are becoming more and more likely and their impact on businesses are becoming more profound.
“They reinforce the importance of investing now to ensure business have robust, tested and effective cyber strategies and back up plans in place”
The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) says it has contacted the National Cyber Security Centre which has said it is “currently monitoring the issue”.
“At present we do not know whether any meat has been destroyed as a result of the hack but urge all businesses in the food supply chain to check their fridges and to increase their vigilance,” said Tony Goodger, head of communications at AIMS
