Cybersecurity is an emerging threat in food and beverage manufacturing that demands immediate attention, particularly as AI-powered scams target the industry. Individual employee training is essential since there is no single solution to protect organizations from these evolving threats.
- Cybersecurity coverage gap: Food and beverage manufacturers received limited cybersecurity coverage in 2025 but will see expanded focus in 2026
- AI-powered threat: Artificial intelligence is already being deployed in scams against consumers and businesses, with food manufacturers likely targets
- No universal solution: Organizations cannot rely on a single cybersecurity approach; individual employee training is essential for protection
- Industry awareness: Cybersecurity emerged as a key discussion topic at PACK EXPO Las Vegas during Vision 2030 roundtables and Industry Speaks sessions
- Urgency required: Comprehensive employee training programs should be prioritized now to prevent potential breaches before threats escalate
I don’t typically like to use this space to share what’s in cheap way to fill a page count since you, the reader, have a brain and will undoubtedly read the issue from cover to cover to discover for yourself whatever’s in an issue or what the theme is—or you’ll just look at the table of contents. Well, I’m feeling a little cheap this month, mostly because there are some points that didn’t make it into one of our articles this month, “What Food and Beverage Manufacturing Can Expect in 2026.”
The main one is cybersecurity. It’s a topic that we didn’t give much coverage to this year, but it’s one that we’re going to cover more extensively in 2026, starting with the February issue. It came up at PACK EXPO Las Vegas during conversations I had with attendees and exhibitors, and there was both a Vision 2030 roundtable discussion and an Industry Speaks session. (You can find sessions on-demand at www.packexpolasvegas.com/education.)
Our article on what to expect next year touches on AI, but it doesn’t go into our thoughts on how it’s going to impact cybersecurity. We’re already seeing it being deployed in scams against unwary consumers and some businesses, so it’s only a matter of time before it gets used against a food and beverage manufacturer. In fact, it may have already been used this way, but if so, any victim or victims have kept quiet about it.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a single “one-size-fits-all” solution that can be employed across an organization. That means individual employee training is essential—which is something the IT staff at ProFood World are very serious about. (I’ve hopefully completed my most recent round of training by the time you read this.)
No, it’s not the cheeriest of thoughts during this time of year that’s typically known for being one of merriment and togetherness, but maybe this will help be a motivator to start making a change—kind of like having the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come show you your life.
