Supplies of goods ranging from meat products to soft drinks could come under pressure due to CO2 shortages in the UK.
The shortages are creating fears that supermarket shelves could be sparse as manufacturers and producers suggest stores could struggle to obtain certain products because of a change in rules coming into force today.
Last year, the Government stepped in to protect supplies of Carbon Dioxide - which is used in food manufacturing and packaging - but the deal is set to end, reports Devon Live.
READ MORE: Warning issued to every O2, EE, Vodafone customer in UK
It agreed a subsidy to the US firm CF Fertilisers, which has a UK plant on Teesside, to safeguard production and keep supplies moving - but that deal has ended.
The gas is used for everything from making drinks fizzy to packing fresh food and is used in the slaughter of animals for meat.
Within the food and beverage industry, CO2 is used for:
-
The humane slaughter of livestock, including pigs and chickens
-
Creating dry ice to keep products chilled in transit
-
Bottling and putting the fizz into carbonated soft drinks, cider and lagers
-
Extending the shelf-life of food and drink products, like salads, fresh meat and poultry
A Food and Drink Federation spokeswoman said: “We are concerned there will be further CO2 shortages once again. This could lead to shortages in the products we find on our supermarket shelves – adding further pressures to families already coping with high food-price inflation."
“We will continue to work with the Government on this. It is critical that together we ensure supply can continue and that we build long-term resilience into the production of food-grade CO2.”
British Meat Processors Association chief executive Nick Allen said it had been assured animal welfare will be prioritised, along with the NHS and the nuclear power industry.
Mr Allen said: “We’re not panicking that we’re heading into a problem immediately. But it is frustrating that after three months we’re running up to the line and no-one knows where we are.
“We’ve found more suppliers but nevertheless, if it closed we would only have about 70 per cent of the CO2 we need for this country.”
On potential price rises, Mr Allen said it is too early to tell if any shortages will lead to shelf prices rising, but added: “We’ve already seen a four-fold increase in CO2 prices since three months ago.”
British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “As the threat of further disruption to the availability of CO2 continues to grow, so does the potential impact on brewers and pubs.
“The sector urgently needs a longer term solution to avoid further, sudden outages – particularly as energy prices are likely to remain high for some time.
“After a devastating winter period for our pubs and brewers, ongoing supply chain disruption could add to the burden of additional costs or seriously hinder our recovery as a sector.
“However, beer drinkers and pub-goers can rest assured there is still plenty of beer to go round.”
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
