Cyber Attack Hits French Supermarket Refrigeration Systems

Hundreds of French supermarkets have been affected by a cyber attack that disrupted refrigeration systems, causing fridges and freezers to warm and spoil fresh and frozen food worth millions of euros. The incident targeted major food retailers across France after hackers gained control of temperature regulation software.

According to AFP, more than 100 Coopérative U supermarkets were targeted, while at least 300 Intermarché and Netto stores were also affected. Intermarché said its refrigeration units reached 50C for six hours overnight into Monday and the retailer discarded all affected food to prevent health risks.

Coopérative U chief executive Dominique Schelcher described the attack as a serious disruption to supermarket operations and said several stores were impacted. He said staff worked with refrigeration specialists to restore normal conditions.

"This is an extremely serious and unprecedented attack" said Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U.

More than 100 Coopérative U supermarkets were among the affected locations, according to AFP. The full scale of the cyber attack remains unclear, with reports that other food retailers may also have been targeted.

"Staff are fully mobilised, in co-ordination with refrigeration specialists, to restore the situation as quickly as possible" said Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U.

Schelcher called for an investigation into the incident and said targeting equipment linked to France's food supply was unacceptable.

"Unacceptable" said Dominique Schelcher, chief executive of Coopérative U.

The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into what it described as a large-scale cyber attack affecting refrigerators at several major food retail chains across France, according to AFP.

"A large-scale cyber-attack affecting the refrigerators of several major food retail chains across France" said the Paris prosecutor's office.

European Food Commissioner Christophe Hansen also responded to the incident, warning about the importance of protecting food systems after the attack.

"Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponisation of food has become a reality" said Christophe Hansen, European Food Commissioner.

Two supermarkets in the Alsace region reported combined losses of €270,000, according to BFMTV, while the nationwide financial impact could reach millions of euros. Reports from specialist retail and local media said stores from Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Monoprix were also affected.