CO2 supply issues 'could create UK food shortages'

A lack of bottled carbon dioxide, or CO2, in the United Kingdom could lead to shortages of food and drink in the coming weeks, an industry group has warned.

The colorless, odorless gas has many uses in the food and drink sector, including in the making of fizzy drinks, the stunning of livestock before slaughter, and the packaging of food. It is also important in the fast-food industry and in the making of bread.

Supply of the gas was temporarily curtailed in the UK in October, when one of the nation's biggest producers halted production because of the high cost of raw materials, particularly natural gas, and shortages soon followed.

The UK government solved the problem at the time by agreeing to subsidize British CO2 production in the short term.

However, that deal is set to end this week and food and drink companies are worried the empty shelves will return.

An unnamed spokesperson for industry body the Food and Drink Federation told the BBC: "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."

The federation has, however, warned supermarkets they could experience shortages of some foods and drinks if the long-term solutions are not found.

CF Industries, a United States-owned company that produces 60 percent of the UK's food grade CO2, is currently talking to the government about seeing those subsidies extended, the BBC reported on Monday.

The Sun tabloid newspaper quoted Kate Halliwell, chief scientific officer at the Food and Drink Federation, as saying: "We are concerned that, with just days now remaining before that agreement comes to an end, and energy prices still very high, there will be further CO2 shortages once again."

She said that would add "further pressures to families already coping with high food-price inflation".

However, the BBC quoted an unnamed spokesman from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as saying that, while there are no plans to extend the subsidy, shortages are not expected.

"We are continuing to work closely with both the hospitality and food and drink industries, and do not expect any significant disruption to essential food supplies," he said.

The Daily Mail newspaper noted that CO2 is not only vital to the food and drink sector, it is also used to cool nuclear reactors and transport chilled food. The paper said the gas is also needed to keep some medicines and vaccines cold, making it crucial to the National Health Service.

The Guardian newspaper noted that there is some hope the situation will rectify itself because CO2 is a byproduct in the manufacture of ammonia, and global demand and prices for ammonia are currently high.