The world’s biggest meat supplier has been hit by a cyberattack in the latest threat to global food supply chains that have already been harmed by the pandemic.
JBS SA shut its North American and Australian computer networks after an assault on its computer servers, the company said. Without commenting on operations at its plants, JBS said the incident may delay certain transactions with customers and suppliers.
The cyberattack sidelined two shifts and halted processing at one of Canada’s largest meatpacking plants, while the Australian Financial Review earlier reported that cattle and sheep slaughtering had been suspended at JBS’s operations in Australia.
There were no immediate reports of plant disruptions in the U.S.
Hackers are targeting commodities with the JBS attack coming just three weeks after the operator of the biggest U.S. gasoline pipeline was hit by a cyberattack. A ransom-ware attack forced the Colonial Pipeline to stop the flow of fuel for several days in May, causing severe gasoline shortages in some areas.
The latest cyberattack comes as the meat industry tries to recover from mass COVID-19 outbreaks last year that saw plants shut and supplies disrupted.
JBS’s incident affected a Canadian beef plant in Brooks, Alberta, about 190 kilometres east of Calgary, according to United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Union Local 401. A JBS packaging facility in Belleville, Ontario, where beef, pork and salmon are prepared for grocery stores, was operating normally on Monday (May 31).
Sao Paulo, Brazil-based JBS owns facilities in 20 countries. Australia and New Zealand account for 4% of the company’s revenue, while the U.S. represents 50% and Canada 3%, according to the company.