Fears of food supply crisis as CO2 bailout ends and sparks warnings of a shortage
- Shoppers could face food and drink shortages amid new fears over supplies of carbon dioxide gas
- Food and drink industry chiefs said it was ‘critical’ that ministers act to maintain CO2 supplies
- The Government insisted there are now more stocks of carbon dioxide available from UK firms and imports
Shoppers could face food and drink shortages amid new fears over supplies of carbon dioxide gas.
The gas is used to put bubbles in soft drinks and in packaging for meat, cheese and salads.
It is also used by the NHS, nuclear power stations and abattoirs to help kill animals such as pigs and chickens.
Last year, US chemical giant CF Industries shut down two UK CO2 plants because of surging energy costs, but reopened them after being promised tens of millions of pounds by the Government under a deal ending this week.
Shoppers could face food and drink shortages amid new fears over supplies of carbon dioxide gas
The gas is used to put bubbles in soft drinks and in packaging for meat, cheese and salads
Food and drink industry chiefs said it was ‘critical’ that ministers act to maintain CO2 supplies.
Kate Halliwell, of the Food and Drink Federation, said: ‘We are concerned that…there will be further CO2 shortages once again.
This could lead to shortages in the products we find on supermarket shelves.’
However, the Government insisted there are now more stocks of carbon dioxide available from UK firms and imports.
It indicated there will be no more cash bailouts, saying: ‘It is for the CO2 industry to ensure supplies.’
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