Cyber-attack on supermarket cooling systems forces food disposal across seven European countries

Dozens of supermarkets in seven European countries have thrown away large quantities of food after a cyber-attack targeted their refrigerators and freezers, according to the BBC. Belgium and Luxembourg suffered some of the greatest damage, with 40 Delhaize supermarkets affected across the two countries. Incidents were also reported in Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Finland.

At a Delhaize store in Hoeilaart, near Brussels, BBC correspondent Nick Beake saw piles of food awaiting disposal, including frozen pizzas and ice cream. The branch estimated its damage at more than €100,000 (£83,500). The report did not identify who was responsible for the attack or explain how the cooling equipment was targeted.

The discarded stock shows the physical losses associated with this attack on supermarket refrigeration, beyond disruption to digital systems. However, the BBC report provides a financial estimate for only one branch, not the affected network as a whole, and does not establish the total volume of food lost.