In brief
Hundreds of supermarkets across France were hit by a cyberattack that forced refrigeration units to heat up to 50°C overnight, compromising thousands of tonnes of fresh and frozen products. Major chains such as Intermarché, Netto, Coopérative U and others suffered significant losses, with some stores discarding spoiled food to protect public health. French authorities have opened an investigation, calling the attack a serious breach of national food security. Experts warn that weaponsising essential food equipment erodes consumer confidence and logistical resilience.
Hundreds of French supermarkets have been hit by a cyber attack that caused their fridges and freezers to heat up, spoiling fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.
Hackers reportedly gained control of the software that regulates the temperatures of the refrigeration units, forcing some to warm to 50°C (120°F) overnight.
The chief executive of Coopérative U described the attack on several of its stores as “extremely serious and unprecedented.” More than 100 of its supermarkets were targeted, while at least 300 outlets from Intermarché and its Netto brand were also affected, AFP reports.
Intermarché said its fridges had heated up to 50°C for six hours overnight into Monday and the retailer discarded all affected food to avoid health risks, as reported by Reuters. Staff in some stores were greeted by waves of hot air when opening freezer units on Monday morning.
French broadcaster BFMTV showed a freezer in an ice‑cream aisle displaying 26.5°C. Two supermarkets in Alsace recorded losses of €270,000 (£228,000) between them, the broadcaster added, implying the national total could run into the millions.
The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation, calling the incident a "large‑scale cyber‑attack affecting the refrigerators of several major food retail chains across France." European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen condemned the hack on X, saying, "Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponisation of food has become a reality."
The full scale of the attack remains unclear. Reports from specialist retail and local media suggest that other food giants, including Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Monoprix, were also impacted. BBC News has asked the supermarket chains for comment.
In a post on X, Coopérative CEO Dominique Schelcher said staff were "fully mobilised, in co‑ordination with refrigeration specialists, to restore the situation as quickly as possible." He called for an investigation and said targeting equipment essential to the French food supply was "unacceptable."
