There was a major cyberattack on many supermarkets across Europe. The hackers increased the temperature of refrigerators as well as freezers. The cyberattackers exploited a vulnerability in refrigeration controllers. The former increased temperatures to 50 degrees Celsus spoiling stored food resulting in major financial losses. The attack affected numerous supermarkets across Europe, including Auchan, Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Intermarché and Monoprix.

Most of the damage happened in France, but food retailers in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain were also affected.  The incident spoilt fresh as well as frozen food having value running into millions of euros. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has instructed France’s National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) to investigate, according to his office. As per sources ANSSI had identified a vulnerability in software supplied by Danish company Danfoss.

European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen denounced the hack in a post on X and stated “Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponization of food has become a reality.”

Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of the Coopérative U chain, which had 100 stores affected, said the attack was “unprecedented”. “Targeting equipment essential to the preservation of fresh products and to the food supply of the French people is extremely serious and is unprecedented. It is unacceptable.”

SOURCES:-

https://www.securityweek.com/refrigeration-controller-hack-spoils-food-across-european-supermarkets/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crq5nzxv9q4yo

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/13/france-supermarket-hack-cyberattack-fridges-fires.html

https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/13/cyber-attack-heats-up-hundreds-of-fridges-at-french-supermarkets/

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/12/europe/france-supermarket-cyberattack-fridges-intl