Cyber Attack Hits Food Chains in Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg

European media outlets reported Monday that supermarket chains in Sweden, Belgium, and Luxembourg had been targeted in suspected cyberattacks that caused refrigeration systems to reach dangerously high temperatures. According to the reports, hackers gained access to the retailers' computer systems and remotely increased refrigeration temperatures to as high as 50°C (122°F).

The incidents reportedly mark the second wave of unusual cyberattacks targeting refrigeration and freezer systems at food retailers across Europe. The first wave struck France several weeks ago, causing widespread disruption, the destruction of tons of perishable food, and financial losses estimated in the millions of euros. The latest incidents occurred overnight, approximately three weeks after a similar attack reportedly disrupted operations at hundreds of supermarkets in France and the Netherlands.

Supermarkets Across Europe Report Major Disruptions

In Sweden, supermarket chain ICA reported that several of its locations had been affected, while Coop confirmed disruptions at six stores. At one supermarket in Stockholm, refrigeration temperatures reportedly climbed to 50°C, rendering the cooling systems ineffective and putting perishable products at risk.

In Belgium and Luxembourg, approximately 40 branches of the Delhaize supermarket chain were reportedly affected. Similar disruptions were recorded at 15 Carrefour locations and five Spar stores. Some refrigeration units in Belgium reportedly reached temperatures as high as 70°C (158°F), far beyond the levels required for safe food storage. Isolated reports of similar refrigeration malfunctions also emerged from stores in Ireland and Estonia, raising concerns that the attacks may extend beyond the countries initially affected.

How Hackers Allegedly Manipulated Refrigeration Systems

According to the reports, the attackers remotely infiltrated central computer systems responsible for controlling ventilation, refrigeration, and freezing equipment. Rather than shutting off the electricity, the hackers allegedly altered the systems' operating settings, switching them into defrosting or heating modes.

Store managers at affected locations reported that the compromised systems began blowing hot air into freezer units, leaving employees unable to regulate the temperature or regain manual control. The resulting heat reportedly caused extensive spoilage of fresh and frozen food products, forcing retailers to discard substantial quantities of merchandise. Unlike conventional cyberattacks that primarily target customer information or financial records, these incidents allegedly interfered directly with physical equipment, resulting in food losses, operational disruptions, and potentially significant financial damage.

Belgian Authorities Launch Criminal Investigation

Belgium's prosecutor's office announced the opening of a criminal investigation into suspicions that the refrigeration failures were caused by a deliberate cyberattack. European authorities are examining whether the incidents form part of a coordinated, large-scale operation targeting supermarket chains across several countries. The reported similarities between the latest disruptions and the earlier attacks in France have strengthened suspicions that the events may be connected.

Investigators are seeking to determine how the attackers allegedly gained remote access to the systems, whether the affected retailers shared common technology or service providers, and whether the incidents were carried out by the same individuals or group. At this stage, the identity of those responsible and the full extent of the suspected attacks remain unclear.

Israel Issues Cybersecurity Warning to Food Retailers

Following reports of the cyberattacks in Europe, Israel's National Cyber Directorate issued a warning Monday evening to supermarket chains and food companies across the country, urging them to conduct immediate security checks of their computer systems and refrigeration infrastructure to reduce the risk of similar incidents.

The warning highlights growing concerns about cyber threats targeting essential commercial infrastructure, particularly systems that connect digital controls to physical equipment. As European authorities continue their investigations, the incidents underscore the potential consequences of attacks on automated food storage systems, where unauthorized changes to temperature settings can cause extensive product losses, disrupt retail operations, and result in substantial financial damage.