As the food industry continues its embrace of the digital age, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern. Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, posing a significant risk not only to operational efficiency but also to public health and consumer trust. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are playing a larger role in the food industry. However, AI is also empowering more sophisticated attacks on systems. It has never been more important to integrate robust cybersecurity measures into food safety planning, ensuring that products remain secure throughout the supply chain.
Rising Threats to the Food Industry
On March 19, 2025, the International Association for Food Protection – Developing Food Safety Professionals group hosted a webinar on cybersecurity led by Kristin Demoranville, Founder & CEO of AnzenSage. During the webinar, experts delved into the growing vulnerabilities in the food industry, highlighting key cyber threats and their potential consequences (Demoranville, 2025). Ms. Demoranville emphasized the increasing frequency and severity of cyberattacks targeting food processing, logistics, and storage systems.
Notable incidents such as the 2021 ransomware attacks on NEW Cooperative (Industrial Cyber, 2021) and JBS Foods (Nogueira, 2021) serve as stark reminders of the devastating impact these breaches can have on businesses and public health. The JBS Foods ransomware attack, for instance, temporarily shutdown of several of its meat processing plants in North America and Australia. This disruption not only crippled the company’s operations but also posed significant risks to food safety, including food spoilage and contamination. The delays in processing and distribution heightened concerns about the quality and safety of meat products, potentially exposing consumers to health hazards and creating supply chain instability.
Similarly, the attack on NEW Cooperative, a major agricultural cooperative in the Midwest, compromised the organization’s ability to manage essential grain processing systems. This breach had a cascading effect on the local food supply chain, impacting everything from feed production to the delivery of grain to farms, further exposing vulnerabilities in food production infrastructure.
Both incidents highlighted how vulnerable food production and distribution networks are to cyber threats, with far-reaching implications for food safety and the global food supply chain, potentially affecting consumers worldwide.
The rise of cyberattacks in food systems has exposed gaps in digital security measures across the industry. Both large-scale and small-scale operations face risks, including the compromise of sensitive data, disruption of operations, and a loss of consumer trust.
Why Cybersecurity is Critical for Food Safety
The 2021 ransomware attacks on JBS Foods and NEW Cooperative highlighted the vulnerabilities within our food systems and the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to food safety that integrates cybersecurity. As Ms. Demoranville stressed, cybersecurity and food safety are intrinsically linked, and all stakeholders, from suppliers and staff to senior leadership, must work together to safeguard against these risks.
As the food industry continues to evolve, so too will the complexity of cyber threats. Companies must build resilience through both small actions like verifying supplier cybersecurity practices or using strong passwords, and larger efforts to prioritize proactive planning and hardening systems accessible vis the internet. Prepared organizations will have a cybersecurity plan and will periodically assess if that plan is effectively implemented. This validation includes testing your emergency response through exercises. According to the USDA’s Food Defense tools and resources, conducting regular emergency response drills can help organizations assess their readiness and ensure their plans are effective when a cyberattack occurs (USDA, n.d.). This integrated, action-oriented approach is vital for strengthening the food industry’s resilience to cyber threats.
6 Key Areas to Control for Cybersecurity
The cybersecurity presentation outlined six actionable strategies for addressing cybersecurity risks within food safety management:
- Verify Supplier Integrity
Ensure suppliers meet cybersecurity standards to prevent vulnerabilities in the supply chain. - Monitor Equipment & Sensors
Continuously monitor physical and digital systems to detect and prevent cyberattacks before they disrupt operations. - Control Physical Access to Systems
Restrict access to critical systems and sensitive data to trusted personnel only. - Secure Digital Records
Encrypt and back up digital records to safeguard against cyber threats. - Train Staff on Cyber Hygiene
Provide cybersecurity training to help staff identify, prevent, and respond to threats. - Have an Incident Response Plan
Develop and implement a plan to address cybersecurity breaches quickly and effectively.
Protecting Your Operations with Food Security Planning and Preparedness
Cybersecurity has evolved beyond being merely an information technology (IT) concern and is now a critical component of food safety. Cyberattacks can disrupt food production processes, compromise the integrity of products, and undermine consumer trust in your brand. As digital threats continue to grow in the food industry, developing a comprehensive food security plan is essential. Key elements to incorporate in your plan include:
- Review and Develop Your Safety Plan: You should review your food safety plans to ensure they include cybersecurity risks. Ensure your plan is comprehensive, identifying potential vulnerabilities and developing strategies to address them, so your business is protected from both cyber and operational threats.
- Ensure Supplier Security: Evaluate the cybersecurity practices of your suppliers. By assessing their protocols and ensuring they align with your food safety standards, you can safeguard the integrity and resiliency of your supply chain and reduce risks from third-party vulnerabilities.
- Invest in Emergency Preparedness: Enlist emergency preparedness services help you plan for the unexpected. An experienced resource will assist you in developing and testing response plans, so you are ready to address cybersecurity breaches or other emergencies effectively. This ensures that you can quickly recover from incidents, maintain business continuity, and protect your reputation.
- Staff Training and Awareness: Provide training programs that empower your team to understand, defend against, and respond to potential cybersecurity threats within the context of food safety. By ensuring your staff is well-prepared, you reduce the risk of human error and strengthen your organization’s resilience to disruptions.
Conclusion
As the food industry grapples with the dual challenge of ensuring food safety and safeguarding against cyber threats, it is clear that cybersecurity must be woven into the fabric of food safety management. By adopting robust cybersecurity measures, such as supplier verification, continuous monitoring, comprehensive incident mitigation and response plans, and training for emergency preparedness, food companies can strengthen their defenses against food safety attacks while maintaining consumer trust.
Need Support?
Are you ready to take the next step in strengthening your food safety and operational integrity? At SES, our services are designed to help you build, review, and test a resilient safety plan that addresses these evolving challenges. Contact SES today to discuss how we can help you implement a comprehensive food safety plan that addresses emerging cybersecurity risks, and ensure your business is prepared for any potential disruptions. Our emergency preparedness services are designed to help you ensure your response plan is actionable and effective, so you are ready when it matters most.
References
Demoranville, K. (2025, March 19). What Every Food Safety Professional Needs to Know About Cybersecurity [Webinar]. Developing Food Safety Professionals Professional Development Group.
Industrial Cyber. (2021, September 21). BlackMatter ransomware group strikes NEW Cooperative, makes demand of $5.9 million. https://industrialcyber.co/news/blackmatter-ransomware-group-strikes-new-cooperative-makes-demand-of-5-9-million/.
Nogueira, A. (2021, June 9). Meatpacker JBS says it paid equivalent of $11 mln in ransomware attack. https://www.reuters.com/technology/jbs-paid-11-mln-response-ransomware-attack-2021-06-09/.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Food defense tools and resources. Food Safety and Inspection Service. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/food-defense-and-emergency-response/food-defense/food-defense-tools-resources-and.