CO2 supply shortages disrupt regional meat production

CO2 is used for various food-making processes, including the transit of frozen goods, stunning of animals at slaughterhouses and surface sanitization processes. The British Meat Processors Association claimed in mid-September that supply issues would severely impact the industry for at least the next 4-6 weeks due to multiple production stoppages.

Amid a deteriorating supply situation, two of the country’s largest food have called on the British government to cap the price of the gas to shield manufacturers from the worst impacts.

CO2 costs have increased during the energy crisis, with reports that meat processors are switching to electricity instead of CO2 to stun animals to save costs. The alarm has been echoed across Europe, with calls for governments to prioritize meat production moving into a winter of uncertain natural gas supplies on the continent. Although some governments appear willing to support struggling companies, these measures are only temporary solutions that do not fix the underlying reasons for the crisis.