Hackers Overheat French Supermarket Fridges to 122°F, Spoiling Food and Sparking Fires
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Oct 13
Hackers Overheat French Supermarket Fridges to 122°F, Spoiling Food and Sparking Fires
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Oct 13
Summary
Hundreds of French supermarkets saw refrigerators and freezers heat to as much as 50C overnight, ruining fresh food and in some cases triggering fires.
Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché and Coopérative U were among the chains hit after hackers targeted refrigeration systems tied to store production facilities, according to Reuters and Coopérative U CEO Dominique Schelcher.
Felix Aime of Sekoia said the attack also affected Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium, suggesting a broader cross-border operation.
European Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen called the incident a sign that food security needs greater protection, saying the weaponization of food has become a reality.
What happens when hackers remotely turn internet-connected grocery store freezers into literal fire hazards overnight?
Could the outdated cooling systems in your local supermarket be the next weapon used to cripple the global food supply?
Inside the October 2026 Cyberattack on French Supermarkets: How Hackers Crippled 500 Stores and Threatened Europe’s Food Supply
Overview
On October 11–12, 2026, attackers exploited unpatched vulnerabilities in internet-exposed Danfoss controllers to remotely trigger extended defrost cycles in supermarket refrigeration systems across France. This caused freezers to overheat, reaching up to 80°C, which melted equipment, sparked fires, and set off sprinkler systems, flooding storerooms. Around 500 supermarkets—including major chains like Intermarché and Carrefour—faced operational emergencies, forcing managers to close damaged sections and discard large amounts of spoiled food. The incident led to tens of millions of euros in losses, immediate supply chain disruptions, and prompted a national cybersecurity investigation, urgent remediation, and calls for greater software transparency from vendors.