A carbon dioxide (CO2) shortage has led to fears of disruption to food and fizzy聽drink supplies in the UK.
Beer, fizzy聽drinks and meat producers have all warned of possible shortages and The British Poultry Council (BPC) has asked the Government and gas producers to give them priority over supplies to 鈥渒eep the food chain moving鈥�. Trade journal Gas World said the shortage had been described as the 鈥渨orst supply situation to hit the European carbon dioxide (CO2) business in decades鈥�.
So what鈥檚 going on?
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What is the problem?
Food grade CO2 is used in the production of a wide variety of food and drink products. But with at least five CO2 producers across northern Europe offline, a shortfall in the gas is causing concern of shortages of beer,聽fizzy drinks, and meat. The current low price of ammonia has also meant producers have not restarted production quickly.
Is this just in the UK?
Yes. The European shortage has been exacerbated by three of UK鈥檚 largest CO2 plants closing for maintenance and only one major factory operating.
Why has this happened now?
Demand for beer and fizzy drinks is peaking as the summer heats up and football fans gather to watch the football World Cup. CO2 comes from ammonia plants that manufacture fertiliser. But in a case of extremely bad timing, peak consumption for food and drink is hitting as manufacturers shut down for summer maintenance work because demand for fertiliser peaks in winter.
CO2 is obviously needed for fizzy drinks, but why are food producers so concerned?
The meat industry primarily uses CO2 in the slaughtering process for pigs and poultry. Fresh food could also be affected by the shortage because suppliers use CO2 to keep products fresh during storage and transit.
How worried should we be?
The British Poultry Council has said the current shortage could have a 鈥減otentially huge effect鈥� on British food production. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has also said it is 鈥渧ery concerned鈥� about the shortage, as CO2 is used in packing fresh meat and salads, while the British Soft Drinks Association said it is 鈥渋mpacting a wide range of businesses across the food and drink sector鈥�.
How long is the shortage expected to last?
No one can say, definitively. Trade journal Gas World has reported that the shortage appears to be likely to continue for the remainder of June 鈥渁t least鈥�.
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