A suspected cyberattack disrupted refrigeration systems at supermarkets in Belgium and Sweden, causing temperatures inside refrigerators and freezers to rise sharply and leading to significant food losses, while authorities and retailers continue investigating the incidents.

Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize said an IT incident affected dozens of its stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, where staff detected a sudden increase in refrigerator temperatures.

Company spokeswoman Sarah de Meester said the cause of the incident was still under investigation and declined to confirm whether it was the result of a deliberate cyberattack or to estimate the extent of food losses caused by the disruption. Reuters reported that the company is treating the incident as a possible cyberattack while investigations continue.

Delhaize operates stores in 11 European Union member states, with Belgium and Luxembourg remaining its largest markets.

Swedish supermarkets also affected

Swedish media reported that refrigeration and freezer systems at several ICA and Coop supermarkets were also compromised overnight, resulting in large quantities of food being spoiled.

Most of the affected stores were located in the southern province of Skane, while similar incidents were also reported on the island of Oland, in Varmland County and in Stockholm. In some locations, freezer temperatures reportedly climbed to nearly 50 degrees Celsius.

ICA spokesman Gustaf Nilsson said the equipment in the worst-affected stores was connected to networks outside the company’s central system. Coop also confirmed that similar incidents occurred at six of its stores.

Swedish authorities and retailers have not yet confirmed whether the incidents were directly linked, but investigations remain ongoing.

Similar incident reported in France last month

The latest incidents came weeks after refrigeration systems manufactured by Danish company Danfoss were targeted in hundreds of stores across France on 12 October, causing temperatures to rise and damaging food supplies.

Authorities have not identified those responsible for the attacks, and investigators have not confirmed whether the incidents in Belgium, Sweden and France are connected.

Cybersecurity experts noted that attacks targeting industrial control systems and commercial refrigeration infrastructure could pose significant risks to food supply chains if coordinated on a larger scale. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the recent incidents, and investigations remain ongoing.(ILKHA)