'The weaponization of food has become a reality,' European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen warned after French supermarket cyberattacks disrupted refrigeration systems at several stores, spoiling food and prompting reports of fires.
In a post on X on 12 October 2026, Hansen condemned the attack affecting Intermarché, Coopérative U and E.Leclerc and called for greater attention to food security. Reuters reported that temperatures in some supermarket refrigerators and freezers reached 50°C (122°F) overnight, leaving retailers to discard affected fresh and frozen products.
