Cyber attacks have disrupted the refrigeration and freezing systems at several supermarkets across Italy. The attacks caused problems with temperature regulation, leading to the possible thawing of some frozen goods and the removal of affected products from sale. However, the Italian government says the incidents were limited and that there is no evidence of a threat to public health.
The attacks occurred on Monday, November 2, 2026, and did not affect only Italy. Supermarket chains in multiple European countries reported similar disruptions. The incidents have highlighted vulnerabilities in the internet-connected technologies that control food storage.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ordered an immediate review of the situation with the involvement of intelligence services and the National Cybersecurity Agency. The government is urging retailers to enhance the protection of their systems.
Italian Government Says the Situation Is Under Control
The office of Prime Minister Meloni stated after a security meeting that the impact in Italy was limited to a small number of retail outlets, compared to the thousands of stores operating nationwide.
Preliminary assessments have confirmed that there is no public health risk arising from thawed frozen foods. The government has stated there is no need for panic, while relevant institutions remain on high alert.
Attendees at the meeting included representatives from intelligence agencies, the National Cybersecurity Agency, and government officials, including Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.
Authorities focused predominantly on tracking the scope of the attacks, assessing risks for food distribution, and the protection of technology infrastructure in the retail sector.
Older Cooling Systems Most Affected
Preliminary findings from Italian agencies suggest the attackers mainly targeted equipment with outdated security protections.
The main vulnerabilities were systems directly connected to the internet with inadequate login security, making them susceptible to unauthorized remote access.
Modern supermarket cooling technologies often allow remote, centralized monitoring and temperature adjustments so staff and technicians can control operations without being physically present in stores.
However, that convenience can become a security risk if remote access is not properly safeguarded by manufacturers or operators.
The Italian government said the majority of distribution chains use up-to-date security tools that blocked most attacks. The incidents were thus concentrated in a smaller number of stores running older technology.
Attacks Also Affected Sicily and Other Regions
According to Italian media, issues were reported mainly in Sicily, but stores in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna were also affected.
The news agency ANSA reported disruptions in some supermarkets and food sector facilities. According to Anadolu Agency, Conad confirmed problems in five of its stores—two in Veneto and three in Sicily.
In some cases, interventions were necessary to prevent further losses. Technical teams examined the affected equipment and worked to restore it to operation.
The exact extent of damage and final number of impacted locations are still being evaluated. Italian authorities continue to monitor the situation.
Similar Cyber Issues Reported Across Europe
Italy is not the only country affected by such incidents in recent days. Other European nations have also reported cooling and freezing system failures suspected to be caused by cyber attacks.
According to current information, the following countries have reported incidents:
- Belgium,
- Estonia,
- Finland,
- Ireland,
- Luxembourg,
- Netherlands,
- Portugal,
- Sweden,
- Italy.
In Belgium, several supermarket chains reported issues. Carrefour reported around 15 affected outlets, while stores belonging to Delhaize, Colruyt, and Intermarché were also disrupted.
In Sweden, supermarket chains ICA and Coop experienced outages in cooling systems. Coop stated that seven of its more than 800 locations were impacted.
In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores had problems with their refrigeration systems. As a precaution, part of the affected food products were withdrawn from sale, with restocking beginning after the incidents were resolved.
Retailers across Europe are facing similar threats in multiple countries. However, it has not been confirmed whether a single coordinated group is behind all the incidents, or if they are directly related.
European Commission Warns of Risks for Food Supply Chain
The incidents prompted a response from the European Union. EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, called the attacks a serious threat to the food supply chain.
According to Hansen, the issue is not just a technical problem for individual stores. Disruptions to cooling systems can damage consumer trust in food safety and in the retailers’ ability to store food correctly.
European authorities are monitoring whether these attacks repeat or spread further. Security experts are recommending strict separation between technological systems and standard corporate networks, as well as tight control over remote access.
These incidents show that cybersecurity concerns now extend beyond banks, government offices, or large tech companies. Even seemingly unrelated devices can become a target for cyber crime.
Police Investigate Who Is Responsible
Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the cyber incidents. The national cyber crime police are involved in examining the cases.
So far, it is unknown who is responsible. No group has claimed the attacks, and officials have not reported any links to specific countries or organizations.
Investigators are focusing on how the attackers gained access, whether known vulnerabilities were exploited, and whether patterns suggest the incidents are related.
Given similar problems in several countries, the possibility of wider coordination is also being examined. However, there is no evidence at this point of a single European-wide operation by one attacker.
France Experienced Similar Attacks in October
The latest incidents are reminiscent of a major cyber attack in France in October, which hit supermarket refrigeration systems in hundreds of stores.
Higher temperatures resulted in damage to fresh and frozen food. Retailers had to discard large quantities of products and review the security of their systems.
The similarities between the French incident and the current wave of attacks across Europe raise questions about whether the attackers are exploiting the same vulnerabilities.
The broader security context is discussed in the article “Europe Faces a Wave of Sabotage. Security Services Warn of Escalating Risks,” as cyber operations and attacks on infrastructure are becoming an increasingly common part of the European security landscape.
What Does This Mean for Shoppers?
The Italian government currently sees no grounds for public health concerns. However, if temperature controls in storage are disrupted, retailers must assess whether the affected food products are still safe for sale.
For frozen foods, thawing and refreezing is a particular risk, while for fresh products, prolonged exposure to unsuitable temperatures can also be a problem.
This is why it is important for retailers to have effective monitoring systems to quickly detect any changes in temperature, and to remove potentially compromised products from sale if in doubt.
Current information does not indicate widespread or serious threats to public health in Italy.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
