Another suspected cyberattack has disrupted grocery stores in several European countries, raising concerns about the security of the region’s food supply.
The incident, which took place Monday, affected refrigeration systems at supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia and Ireland. Among the reported affected businesses were Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt in Belgium and Luxembourg, ICA and Coop in Sweden, and one IKEA store.
Refrigerator and freezer temperatures rose, leaving some stores with spoiled food that had to be thrown away. One ICA sales manager said the freezers at her store reached 50 degrees Celsius, or more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
European officials have voiced growing concern about the disruption. EU agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen said the attacks appear intended to interfere with the food supply chain and erode consumer confidence, adding that their repeated occurrence was troubling.
A spokesperson for Delhaize said an IT incident affected several stores, mainly in Belgium and also in Luxembourg. Fresh and frozen product selections were temporarily limited at those locations, the spokesperson said, while distribution centers continued operating normally and store deliveries were not interrupted.
The incident comes after a similar attack in France last month affected about 700 of the country’s roughly 10,000 supermarkets. Several major chains were among those impacted.
Investigators are still working to determine how the latest attack happened and who was responsible.
