122 Degrees: Cold Chain Halted Across Europe

Supermarkets across five European countries lost control of their refrigeration systems on Monday, November 2, after suspected cyberattacks drove freezer temperatures to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. The intrusion caused immediate spoilage of meat, dairy, and frozen goods, forcing retailers in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, and Ireland to dispose of inventory. This event marks a second major cyber disruption to the cold chain in Europe this year, following a similar attack in France last month that triggered fires and widespread food loss at hundreds of locations.

In Sweden, ICA Group confirmed that a limited number of stores were affected by the intrusion. At the ICA Kvantum branch in Sjöbo, staff discovered that fridges and freezers had been remotely set to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, necessitating the removal of all affected items. The Coop grocery chain reported six stores experienced similar issues. In Belgium, dozens of Ahold Delhaize stores and five Spar shops faced targeted attacks on their cooling units. Stephan Moelans, chief executive of Sabcobel, told the Belga news agency that evaporators were switched to defrost mode, raising internal temperatures. Carrefour stated that 15 of its more than 700 locations were impacted, describing the effect as extremely limited.

Estonia and Luxembourg also reported disruptions. Kitman Coldtech, a technology supplier in Estonia, confirmed that a client's system was accessed and set to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Luxembourg reported that a few stores were impacted by the same failure. In Ireland, the SuperValu chain identified a cyber incident at 13 stores, requiring the removal of chilled and frozen products. The company noted that monitoring systems detected the issue and immediate action was taken, though an investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities have not yet identified the group responsible for the attacks, and no hacker collective has claimed responsibility. John Billow, head of Sweden’s National Cybersecurity Centre, told Reuters that officials are responding to multiple incidents. He called for urgent updates to vulnerable operational technology devices that manage store equipment. The European Commission warned that these events demonstrate how cyber threats can disrupt daily life, urging stronger cybersecurity measures across the continent as investigations continue to determine the scope of the breach.

Retailers are working to restore affected systems and minimize further impacts. The incidents illustrate the growing vulnerability of retail infrastructure as more store systems become internet-connected. While no group has taken credit, the pattern of attacks targeting cooling units suggests a coordinated effort to exploit connected hardware. Supermarkets in the affected regions continue to assess damage and replace spoiled stock as they prepare for the week ahead.