In a series of alarming incidents, major food industry companies have fallen victim to cyberattacks, causing significant disruptions and financial losses. The affected companies include Dole, Sysco, Mondelez, Americold, and Maple Leaf Foods.
These attacks highlight the increasing vulnerability of the food industry to cyber threats and the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Dole Faces Ransomware Attack
Dole Food Company, a major player in the North American food industry, experienced a ransomware attack in February, 2023. The incident led to the shutdown of the company’s IT systems, affecting operations across North America.
Sysco Suffers Data Breach
Sysco, a global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food products, has also been targeted. The company suffered a data breach that exposed the Social Security numbers of its employees. The attackers gained access around the 14th of January, and the attack was discovered on March 14, 2023.
Mondelez Warns Employees of Data Theft
Mondelez, the U.S. manufacturer of Oreo cookies and Milka chocolate, has warned its employees about a data breach at the law firm Bryan Cave. The breach has compromised the personal data of more than 50,000 of its current and former employees. The leaked information includes Social Security numbers, names, addresses, dates of birth, and other sensitive data.
Americold Outage Caused by Network Breach
Americold, a leading cold storage and logistics company, faced IT issues following a network breach. The company contained the attack. The breach affected operations and led to system downtime.
Maple Leaf Foods Hit by Cyberattack
Maple Leaf Foods, a major pork and poultry packer, suffered a ransomware attack last fall that had an adverse economic impact of $23 million or more. The company had to work extensively to restore its systems, which affected its bottom line. The attack led to system restoration costs, lost sales, overtime, spoiled inventory, and professional fees.
