Food And Drinks Firms Warn Of Shortages

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Food And Drinks Firms Warn Of Shortages

Food And Drink Companies Warn Of Shortages

Queues are forming outside shops and shelves are emptying fast as people stockpile in a bid to prepare for Brexit.

Supermarkets have been hit hard by the price increases with some saying they will lose up to £100 million if fresh produce becomes more expensive post-Brexit.

Prices of meat, beer, and other products are projected to rise as a result of the failure to renew a pact to assist CF Industries.

Why Is CO2 Important To Food Production

CO2 is an important industrial gas that we use for many things. It’s used in the production of beer, soft drinks, and even some foods! In fact, CO2 is used to carbonate beer and make soda fizzy. It can also be added to food as a preservative in some cases. For example, it is used in packaged fish products like canned tuna or salmon to stop the fish from spoiling.

How Is CO2 Used?

CO2 is also used to enhance the flavor of some foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CO2 as a safe food ingredient that can be added to some kinds of meat products such as beef jerky and corned beef hash, along with other kinds of processed meats such as hot dogs. It’s usually mixed with nitrous oxide (N2O), which will release more CO2.

Governments Response

Following the government's decision not to renew assistance for the carbon dioxide sector, world food companies have openly warned of shortages and higher costs on all food and drinks consumer products.

CO2 is used by meat processors, brewers, bakers, and soft drink manufacturers in the production and packaging of their products. It's also necessary for humane slaughter of animals like pigs and poultry.

The contract was originally made by the government to give the business time to develop alternate sources of food-grade CO2. While some more production has become available – such as from anaerobic digestion at biomass plants – and there have been additional gas imports, This has been limited, and the food industry remains concerned about supply reliability.

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