This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44654127

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
CO2 shortage 'to hit food choices on supermarket shelves' Carbon dioxide crisis to hit supermarket food choice
(about 1 hour later)
The choice of food on supermarket shelves will start dwindling this weekend because of a shortage of carbon dioxide, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned. The carbon dioxide shortage will start affecting some supplies to supermarkets this weekend, the Food and Drink Federation has warned.
CO2 is used to stun farm animals, put fizz in carbonated drinks and is used in packaging, but is in short supply.CO2 is used to stun farm animals, put fizz in carbonated drinks and is used in packaging, but is in short supply.
FDF chief executive Ian Wright said CO2 supplies were not expected to resume until next week. Federation chief executive Ian Wright said carbon dioxide supplies were not expected to resume until next week.
He said that while food and drink would not run out, "choice will be eroded". He said that while stocks would not run out, "choice will be eroded".
Mr Wright told the BBC's Today programme: "We will see fewer chicken dishes, fewer pork and bacon dishes. Mr Wright told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We will see fewer chicken dishes, fewer pork and bacon dishes.
"We'll see probably less carbonated drinks and certainly bakery and other things that benefit from what's called modified atmosphere packaging, which is plastic packaging with a tray underneath and a dish of food in them.""We'll see probably less carbonated drinks and certainly bakery and other things that benefit from what's called modified atmosphere packaging, which is plastic packaging with a tray underneath and a dish of food in them."
A number of companies have reported disruption to production because of the shortage.A number of companies have reported disruption to production because of the shortage.
Most recently Warburton's, which is the UK's biggest producer of crumpets, said it has been forced to halt production at two of its four plants. Warburton's, the UK's biggest producer of crumpets, said it has been forced to halt production at two of its four plants.
The company uses carbon dioxide to give its crumpets a longer shelf life and prevent mould.The company uses carbon dioxide to give its crumpets a longer shelf life and prevent mould.
The British Retail Consortium said: "We are aware of specific pressures in some areas such as carbonated soft drinks, beer, British chicken and British pork but the majority of food products are unaffected and retailers do not anticipate food shortages.The British Retail Consortium said: "We are aware of specific pressures in some areas such as carbonated soft drinks, beer, British chicken and British pork but the majority of food products are unaffected and retailers do not anticipate food shortages.
"However, it is likely that the mix of products available may be affected.""However, it is likely that the mix of products available may be affected."
The FDF's Mr Wright said that even if supplies of CO2 resumed next week, it would take some time before it made its way to food and drink producers because "inventories of products have been eroded quite a lot over the last week and not many people keep very large stocks of products because it is not cost-efficient". The Food and Drink Federation's Mr Wright said that even if supplies of CO2 resumed next week, it would take some time before it made its way to food and drink producers.
"Inventories of products have been eroded quite a lot over the last week and not many people keep very large stocks of products because it is not cost-efficient," he explained.
Scotland's biggest abattoir is closed and other meat producers are considering adapting their products to use less CO2.Scotland's biggest abattoir is closed and other meat producers are considering adapting their products to use less CO2.
Some food and drink firms have asked whether the government could help alleviate the problem.Some food and drink firms have asked whether the government could help alleviate the problem.
"The government can't do everything on this, it has to be the suppliers who react," said Mr Wright. "But I think government can put a lot of pressure on - government can ask suppliers where they've taken factories out as a consequence of planned maintenance to put them back into production." Mr Wright said ministers could ask suppliers that have stopped production for maintenance to put factories back into production.
What is the problem?What is the problem?
CO2 is widely used in the food processing and drinks industries. It puts the fizz into beer, cider and soft drinks, and is used in food packaging to extend the shelf life of salads, fresh meat and poultry.CO2 is widely used in the food processing and drinks industries. It puts the fizz into beer, cider and soft drinks, and is used in food packaging to extend the shelf life of salads, fresh meat and poultry.
The gas is also used to stun pigs and chickens before slaughter, and create dry ice to help keep things chilled while in transit.The gas is also used to stun pigs and chickens before slaughter, and create dry ice to help keep things chilled while in transit.
However, several UK and mainland European producers of carbon dioxide - a by-product from ammonia production that is used in the fertiliser industry - closed for maintenance or scaled down operations.However, several UK and mainland European producers of carbon dioxide - a by-product from ammonia production that is used in the fertiliser industry - closed for maintenance or scaled down operations.
In the UK, only two of five plants that supply CO2 are operating at the moment.In the UK, only two of five plants that supply CO2 are operating at the moment.
The shortage comes at the same time demand for food and drink is soaring. "The football, the weather, the BBQs have created the sort of demand for beer we only see at Christmas," one big UK brewing company told the BBC.
What are the pubs saying?What are the pubs saying?
Earlier in the week, the Wetherspoon and Ei Group pub chains reported they had temporarily run out, or were short of, brands including John Smith's, Strongbow, Amstel and Birra Moretti.Earlier in the week, the Wetherspoon and Ei Group pub chains reported they had temporarily run out, or were short of, brands including John Smith's, Strongbow, Amstel and Birra Moretti.
However, on Thursday, Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said brewers were "working their socks off around the clock to ensure there is still plenty of beer to go around".However, on Thursday, Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said brewers were "working their socks off around the clock to ensure there is still plenty of beer to go around".
"The UK can produce as much as 10 million pints of beer per day, and with signs of things improving, pubs will certainly not be running dry.
"Our message to beer drinkers... is clear: Keep calm and carry on going to the pub. If your usual beer of choice isn't available, then why not use it as an opportunity to try something new?"
What about the meat industry?What about the meat industry?
Meat processors are considering shortening "sell by" dates because packaging will contain lower levels of CO2, and there have been concerns about animal welfare if animals don't go to slaughter at their usual rate.Meat processors are considering shortening "sell by" dates because packaging will contain lower levels of CO2, and there have been concerns about animal welfare if animals don't go to slaughter at their usual rate.
"The last few days have alerted the country to how dependent we are on CO2," Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors' Association, told the BBC on Thursday.
He criticised CO2 producers for a lack of information about when carbon dioxide supplies might return to normal. "It makes planning difficult," Mr Allen said.
The British Poultry Council said its members continued to live "day-to-day" as they tried to stretch out their dwindling supplies of the gas.The British Poultry Council said its members continued to live "day-to-day" as they tried to stretch out their dwindling supplies of the gas.
What does the government say?What does the government say?
The meat industry has become increasingly frustrated by a lack of information coming from CO2 firms and the UK government in particular over when supplies might return to normal.The meat industry has become increasingly frustrated by a lack of information coming from CO2 firms and the UK government in particular over when supplies might return to normal.
"They are not telling us, which means we can't plan," said Richard Griffith, from the British Poultry Council.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department of Business have both said they are monitoring the situation.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department of Business have both said they are monitoring the situation.
They said: "We have been assured CO2 producers are working as fast as they can to get plants up and running again, with CO2 production set to start very shortly."
When can the industry expect more supplies?When can the industry expect more supplies?
The industry trade journal Gas World, which first reported the news that CO2 was running short, said that two tankers full of liquid CO2 from mainland Europe have been delivered to ports in the UK in the past couple of days.The industry trade journal Gas World, which first reported the news that CO2 was running short, said that two tankers full of liquid CO2 from mainland Europe have been delivered to ports in the UK in the past couple of days.
A number of European plants are beginning to increase supplies, while another factory that had closed because of technical issues rather than maintenance, is due to come back online in mid-July.A number of European plants are beginning to increase supplies, while another factory that had closed because of technical issues rather than maintenance, is due to come back online in mid-July.