Cybersecurity Threats in the Food Industry

The food industry plays a vital role in global supply chains, ensuring the availability of essential goods to millions of people. However, the sector’s growing dependence on technology, including automated production systems, IoT devices, and interconnected networks, has made it increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Threat actors often exploit these vulnerabilities, targeting critical systems to cause operational disruptions, delay deliveries, and compromise food safety.

Service interruptions in the food industry due to cyberattacks can have widespread and severe consequences. These range from halting production and creating supply chain bottlenecks to incurring substantial financial losses and damaging brand reputation. In extreme cases, attacks can threaten public health and safety by tampering with food quality or disrupting refrigeration and storage systems. As the sector evolves, ensuring robust cybersecurity practices has become a necessity to safeguard operations and maintain consumer trust.

Case # 1:

Campbell Soup Co.

Processed food producer

Date: July 2023 Country: United States Consequences: Multi-day plant outage

A cyber intrusion was discovered in part of the IT network in July 2023. Little other detail was made available, however the plant was?offline for three days?and employees were temporarily sent home.

Case # 2 :

Dole Foods

Fresh produce giant

Date: February 2023 Country: United States Consequences: Inability to supply products and data breach

A ransomware attack in February 2023 resulted in the shutdown of North American operations to contain its spread and the exfiltration of personal information on 3,885 U.S. employees. Hackers accessed employee information including names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, dates of birth, and phone numbers. The shutdown of operations led to grocery shipments being halted and some stores reporting outages of Dole products for several days. The incident cost Dole?~$10.5 million during the first quarter alone following the attack.

Case # 3 :

JBS

Global meat processing company

Date: May 2021 Country: United States and Australia Consequences: Multi-day, international operation stoppage, temporary staff lay-offs

A ransomware attack on JBS, the world’s largest meatpacking company, halted operations at 47 sites in Australia and nine in the USA for five days. The shutdown threatened meat supply chains, with temporary staff lay-offs at some plants and reports from farmers that their shipments of livestock were cancelled. The attack, carried out by Russian hacker group REvil, encrypted systems used for quality assurance. JBS Foods paid an $US11 million ($14.2 million) ransom in Bitcoin to resolve the issue.

Case # 4 :

Milk processing company

Date: October 2021 Country: United States Consequences: Multi-day processing and distribution centre shutdowns

Schreiber Foods experienced a ransomware attack that shut down its milk processing plants and distribution centres over a weekend, causing a disruption in the milk supply chain. The attack began on Friday 22 October 2021 and systems started to come back online late on the Monday. The company faced a $2.5 million ransom demand and had to redirect milk transporters. Employees were unable to access company buildings during the incident.

Conclusion:

Cyberattacks causing service interruptions in the food industry are not just technical challenges—they are critical threats to public health, economic stability, and supply chain resilience. From halting production lines to endangering food safety, these incidents highlight the devastating impact of insufficient cybersecurity measures.

As technology becomes integral to food production, storage, and distribution, businesses must recognize the urgent need to prioritize cybersecurity. Implementing robust defenses, such as network segmentation, regular system updates, and employee training, is no longer optional but essential. Failure to act exposes not only individual companies but also entire communities to the risks of food shortages, financial losses, and public safety concerns.

The food industry must view cybersecurity as a shared responsibility, involving collaboration across stakeholders, adherence to best practices, and investments in proactive strategies. By doing so, the sector can safeguard its operations, maintain trust, and ensure uninterrupted service in the face of evolving cyber threats.