Employees at Banham Poultry’s plant in Attleborough, England, had personal information accessed in a cybersecurity attack.
According to a BBC report, the attack occurred when Banham Poultry’s computer system was remotely accessed in the early hours of August 18. Information obtained by the cyberattackers included insurance information, copies of passports and bank details.
A company spokesperson said the company immediately shut down its computer systems and “engaged external forensic specialists.” The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office has been contacted and has installed additional security measures.
At this time, the company is not aware if any of the information obtained in the cyberattack has been used inappropriately or maliciously.
The plant continues to operate, and employees are being paid as they normally would.
Other companies involved in the global agrifood industry to have been recent victims of cyberattacks include JBS, Maple Leaf Foods, AGCO, NEW Cooperative, HKScan (now HKFoods) and a cold storage company that has worked with Hormel Foods.
In 2022, Banham Poultry was acquired by Boparan Holdings, the parent company of the U.K.’s largest poultry company, 2 Sisters Food Group. Prior to that, it was owned by Chesterfield Poultry.
