Processors face ‘tight’ situation on C02 supplies

DISRUPTIONS to the supply of CO2 will continue to hit pig and poultry slaughtering for the coming weeks.

Despite a major CO2 manufacturing plant coming back on stream in England this week, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) representative said that the supply situation remained tight and was unlikely to improve over the next fortnight.

“We understand it will be a number of weeks before there is some normalisation of supply and in the meantime we are dependent on limited, prioritised deliveries,” the MII representative said.

CO2 is used in the slaughter process for pigs and poultry, as well as in the packaging of product to extend shelf life.

In response to the shortages, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has given clearance for the temporary use of “non-food grade” CO2 for use in the food industry. The FSAI said that food companies could use carbon dioxide “with no less than 99pc purity” for packaging and for use in the stunning of pigs and poultry.

Some disruption to operations has been reported in the meat industry as a result of the CO2 shortages and plants are being forced to “manage supplies”.

“The [CO2] situation is being viewed very seriously by the meat processing sector. This has been a sudden and sharp drop on CO2 supply,” MII stated. “At present, industry is working to manage supplies, to ensure a prioritisation of CO2 supply in order to maintain as much as possible normal processing.

“Avoiding disruption to normal pig and poultry processing is critical,” MII added.

A spokesman for the Dairy Industry Ireland said it was working with the FSAI, as well as the Food Safety Agency in the UK, to see “what alternatives can be used that will comply with regulations”.

CO2 supplies have been hit hard in the UK where Ireland gets its supplies. However, a plant in Redcar in north-east England is back in production and is expected to improve the situation.