Food and drink companies are having to put plans in place to minimise disruption to customers who want to drink beer and have barbecues this summer.

Dwindling stocks of CO2 couldn't come at a worse time, as the UK basks in hot, sunny weather and the nation tunes in to the World Cup, wanting to celebrate England's success with a beer or two.

What has caused the shortage?

The low supplies are due to a longer than usual break in production of ammonia, one of the key sources of Europe's food grade CO2 - which is used to carbonate drinks and preserve some packed fresh foods.

Trade journal Gasworld says the shortage has been described as the "worst supply situation to hit the European carbon dioxide business in decades".


There are five major sources of CO2 within the UK in which the main gas companies have liquid CO2 production facilities.

Over the past month it has only been the two plants near Manchester that have been operational, but Gasworld says two in Teesside are due to reopen this week.

What is affected?

Image: There is a shortage of some draughts at pub chains including Wetherspoon and Punch Taverns

1. Beer and soft drinks

Food and drink companies are trying to minimise disruption to customers, especially at a time of record hot temperatures and World Cup mania.

Some Wetherspoon pubs are temporarily without draught John Smith's and Strongbow cider, while Punch Taverns, which has about 1,300 pubs, says it has also experienced a shortage of John Smith's, along with Amstel and Birra Moretti.

Some pub landlords say they have not encountered shortages like this in decades of trading. However, not all pub suppliers are affected so the severity of the problem varies even down to a very local level.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) says that while stocks of the gas remain low, brewers are "working their socks" off to ensure the beer continues to flow.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "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 and England fans 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?"

Coca Cola has paused some production lines but says its supply has not been disrupted and it can continue to fulfil customer orders.

Image: Pig farms and abbatoirs use CO2 to stun animals before they are slaughtered

2. Farming

Poultry slaughterhouses have already called for priority supplies of dwindling CO2 stocks, saying the current shortage could have a "potentially huge effect" on British food production.

Scotland's largest pig processing plant, Quality Pork Limited, in Angus, suspended its slaughtering process due to a lack of the gas, which is used to stun animals before they are killed.

British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) chief executive Nick Allen has said the situation is getting "pretty tight", exacerbated by the hot temperatures.

Image: The shortage has led to disruption to some frozen product lines at Morrisons

3. Packaging

Carbon dioxide is widely used in "modified atmosphere packaging". It is part of a gas mixture which is used to remove oxygen from food packaging to prolong the shelf life and keep food looking fresh.

Morrisons and Ocado have told customers that the shortage had led to disruption to some frozen product lines.

A spokeswoman for the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said CO2 supply issues remain and that retailers and suppliers are working hard to ensure food availability is maintained.

"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 BRC said.

"However, it is likely that the mix of products available may be affected."

Image: Dry ice has many uses, including in gastronomy

4. Dry ice

The Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) visitor attraction has said it was unable to get the dry ice it needed for its new show, due to the CO2 supply issues.

Dry ice is also used to keep food chilled when it is in transit and some supermarkets, including Ocado, have rationed frozen food sales.

Frozen food specialist Iceland said it was not affected by the shortage because it uses refrigerated vehicles instead of dry ice.

Dry ice is also popular among singers who want to make an entrance when coming on stage during concerts. It is not known if the music industry will be affected.

Image: Will our supermarket shelves be empty?

Will we run out of food and drink?

It is unlikely. Most shortages so far have been short-term.

Gasworld chief executive John Raquet believes there is "light very much at the end of the tunnel" and that abattoirs, bottling plants and breweries should see an improvement in supply early next week.

"Clearly, there will be a backlog of processing to catch up with and that will take some time - especially within the all important abattoirs - but they should see product deliveries next week," he said.