Fridge and freezer temperature spikes hit grocery stores across Europe, with cyberattack suspected

Grocery chains in at least three European countries reported unexpected temperature spikes in refrigerators and freezers on Monday that ruined food, the second such wave in less than a month. Ahold Delhaize and Colruyt said an IT incident overnight sent temperatures soaring in dozens of stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, and Sweden's ICA and Coop reported similar spikes, with one blaming a cyberattack. About 40 Delhaize stores were hit, with incidents also reported in Ireland, the Netherlands, Estonia and Finland. A Delhaize branch in Hoeilaart, near Brussels, scrapped a mountain of food and put the damage above €100,000 (£83,500). Ahold had reported a cybersecurity incident to Dutch police in October, and Delhaize spokesperson Sarah De Meester said the chain noticed the temperature rises Monday. In France, E. Leclerc, Intermarché and Cooperative U reported a cyberattack less than three weeks earlier that pushed temperatures as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit in hundreds of outlets.

Left-leaning CBS News leads with the repeat pattern, the second incident in under a month, and the risk to interlinked infrastructure, sourcing Reuters, AFP, company spokespeople and the Sabcobel CEO. Right-leaning The Blaze stresses repetition with capitalized wording and frames the story as a hit to the EU's food supply, quoting a statement that calls the incidents deliberate attempts to undermine consumer confidence. Both treat the cause as an apparent or likely cyberattack and cite the French precedent; CBS relies on company accounts, while The Blaze emphasizes intent. Alternative outlet BBC News adds a distinct angle: discarded food and cost estimates at a store near Brussels.