Angus plant grinds to a halt over CO2 shortage

Food and drink producers work to minimise disruption after gas supplies stall

Scotland’s largest pig processing plant, in Angus, has been forced to suspend its slaughtering process due to the carbon dioxide crisis.

Quality Pork Limited in Brechin carried out its last slaughter this week due to a lack of the gas used to stun animals before they are killed.

There are plans to send around 1,000 pigs to another plant near Manchester this week, but operators say the CO2 shortage could have serious implications if the shortage continues.

British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) chief executive Nick Allen said the situation was getting “pretty tight”, exacerbated by the hot temperatures.

Mr Allen said: “The frustration is the lack of information. We understand that several (CO2) producers are reopening plants and restarting production, but getting information is very difficult, which makes it very difficult to plan.

“Things are getting pretty tight and this hot weather won’t be helping.

“If things don’t alter this week, we’re going to see people having to make some serious decisions, mainly in the pig production area.”

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.

Some Wetherspoon pubs are temporarily without draught John Smith’s and Strongbow cider, and a science centre has cancelled its summer programme due to the carbon dioxide shortage.

It comes as food and drink companies put plans in place to minimise disruption for consumers.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said some pubs would be without John Smith’s and Strongbow cider but said that supplier Heineken had advised both would be available again in a couple of days.

He said: “Wetherspoon has the advantage that it sources its wide range of drinks from a number of suppliers, so has not been too badly affected.

“Heineken has been the company with the biggest issues and they have told us that all is getting back to normal.”

The Glasgow Science Centre visitor attraction said it had been unable to get the dry ice it needed for its new show due to the European shortage of CO2.

Food wholesaler Booker said it was limiting sales of some lines to 10 cases per customer per day to prevent “sub-wholesaling”.

The Tesco-owned retailer, which is used by bars, restaurants and traders, said the move was to preserve availability and satisfied the “vast majority of Booker customers”.

A Booker spokeswoman said: “Due to the international shortage of CO2, we are experiencing some supply issues on soft drinks and beer.

“We are currently working hard with our suppliers to minimise the impact for our customers.”

A spokeswoman for the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said CO2 supply issues remained and retailers and suppliers were working hard to ensure food availability was maintained.

The BRC said: “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.

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

The shortages are understood to have been caused by a longer than usual break in production of ammonia, one of the key sources of food grade CO2 in Europe – which is used to carbonate drinks and preserve some packed fresh foods.

Due to the international shortage of CO2, we are experiencing some supply issues on soft drinks and beer

Picture: Alan Richardson. The Quality Pork Limited abattoir in Brechin has been forced to suspend slaughtering.