Cyberattack On Meat Company Impacts Michigan Plant

A cyberattack on a major meat processing company — JBS USA — has disrupted operations at several locations across the U.S., including in Michigan.

The Colorado-based company said Monday that it was the target of an organized cybersecurity attack, affecting servers supporting its IT systems in both North America and Australia. The company said it wasn’t aware of any customer, supplier or employee data that been compromised or misused.

“The company took immediate action, suspending all affected systems, notifying authorities and activating the company's global network of IT professionals and third-party experts to resolve the situation,” the news release from the company said.

While the company did not say if there were impacts to the functioning of meat processing plants, reports from several plants indicate a disruption.

The JBS plant in Plainwell is one of many across the globe to close due to the attack, according to multiple reports. Union officials for the Plainwell plant did not immediately respond to a message from Patch.

The attack on the meat producer comes in the wake of the cyperattack on the Colonial Pipeline, which forced the major fuel supplier to shut down.

A spokesperson for JBS USA did not immediately respond to a request for comment about disruptions to plant operations.

However, in its statement, the company said the resolution would take time and may “delay certain transactions with customer and suppliers.”

The White House said in a statement that the attack was “from a criminal organization likely based in Russia” and the FBI was investigating the attack, Politico reported.

The company has locations and facilities in 28 states in the U.S.