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A billion-dollar milk company has been forced to halt production following a devastating cyberattack.
Fairlife, owned by Coca-Cola, announced on July 16 that it had detected 'unauthorized access by a third party' to parts of its computer systems, including those that support production operations.
The company said the breach was linked to a ransomware attack, prompting it to take portions of its network offline and temporarily suspend production at all US facilities while it investigates and restores its systems.
'Product quality and safety have not been impacted,' Coca-Cola said in a statement.
'However, as a result of the incident, production operations at Fairlife in the United States are temporarily suspended.'
Coca-Cola said the full scope of the cyberattack and its impact remain under investigation.
The disruption has raised concerns about potential supply issues, as Fairlife products are found in approximately one in four US households, making the brand a staple for millions of American consumers.
While products already on store shelves remain safe to consume, a prolonged production shutdown could make some Fairlife items harder to find in grocery stores.
Because milk is a fast-moving, perishable product that requires continuous production and distribution, retailers generally do not keep large stockpiles in reserve.
If manufacturing remains offline for an extended period, store inventories could be depleted relatively quickly before new supplies become available.
Fairlife noted that the cyberattack did not affect its Canadian production.
The company has notified law enforcement and is working with cybersecurity experts to contain the breach, recover affected systems and resume normal operations as quickly as possible.
Fairlife has become one of the fastest-growing names in the dairy industry as more consumers seek out high-protein beverages. It produces a range of lactose-free dairy products, including milk, creamers, nutrition shakes and protein drinks.
The company's signature milk and chocolate milk are made using an ultra-filtration process that concentrates protein and calcium while removing much of the natural sugar.
The resulting milk contains 50 percent less sugar, 30 percent more calcium and 50 percent more protein than conventional milk.
Coca-Cola doubled down on dairy when it acquired the remaining stake in Fairlife for about $7 billion in 2020, a gamble that has since paid off.
By 2022, the brand had surpassed $1 billion in annual retail sales of its premium, protein-rich milk products, fueled by growing consumer demand for healthier beverage options. The acquisition also helped Coca-Cola diversify beyond soft drinks as health-conscious consumers increasingly shift away from sugary sodas.
While Coca-Cola did not provide further details about the cyberattack, modern dairy plants rely heavily on computerized systems to control everything from pasteurization and ultra-filtration to bottling, packaging and shipping.
When ransomware compromises those networks, companies often suspend production rather than risk operating without the digital systems needed to monitor equipment, track inventory and ensure products meet food safety standards.
Fairlife is the latest company to be hit by ransomware, but the attacks are becoming increasingly common.
A ransomware attack is a type of malicious software that locks companies out of their computer systems or encrypts critical files after hackers gain access through phishing emails, stolen passwords or software vulnerabilities.
Cybercriminals then demand a ransom payment, usually in cryptocurrency, in exchange for a digital key that restores access to the affected systems.
Ransomware incidents surged 20 percent during the first half of 2026, averaging about 2,500 attacks per quarter, according to cybersecurity firm NordStellar.
The report found that ransomware-as-a-service groups are increasingly targeting organizations across industries, including healthcare, government and manufacturing, using AI-powered tools to breach systems and extort victims.
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