Fresh meat supply will be slashed within days

‘Seeing some real impacts on shelves’

MEAT production is set to be scaled back within days, industry leaders have warned.

Chicken and pork could vanish from supermarket shelves as the energy crisis hits key elements of the supply chain.

The traditional Christmas dinner is also at risk, with the number of turkeys available for shoppers set to be down drastically.

George Eustice, the Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs, is set to hold crunch talks with representatives from retailers and food producers today as fears grow over the effects of soaring energy prices.

The spike has seen two US-owned fertiliser manufacturing plants shut down in recent days because they cannot operate at a profit. The sites, run by CF Industries, are responsible for supplying 60 per cent of Britain’s CO2 gas – which is essential for food production and packaging.

Because the gas is used for the humane slaughter of chickens and pigs, the entire meat processing system quickly grinds to a halt if deliveries are halted. The gas is also used for everything from putting fizz in soft drinks to creating the holes in crumpets. It is also key to creating packaging that keeps cheese and salad fresh for longer.

Chief executive of the Food & Drink Federation, Ian Wright, warned shoppers will start to see gaps on shelves within the next week or so. ‘Of course, that’s concerning because we’re beginning to get into the period when warehouses begin to build up their stocks, ready for the push to Christmas a few weeks later,’ he said.

Stressing the urgency of the problem, Iceland boss Richard Walker said: ‘This is no longer about whether Christmas will be OK. This is more about keeping the wheels turning and the lights on so we can actually get to Christmas.’

Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association said: ‘My members are saying anything between five, ten and 15 days of supply remain... we’re two weeks away from seeing some real impacts on the shelves.’ Chaos in the supply chain has also prompted welfare concerns for more than 100,000 pigs meant for slaughter that will now remain on farms.

Ranjit Singh Boparan, owner of Bernard Matthews and the 2 Sisters Food Group, said the CO2 crisis – along with staff shortages – would inevitably affect the supply of Christmas turkeys.

‘The CO2 issue is a massive body blow and puts us at breaking point, it really does – that’s poultry, beef, pork, as well as the wider food industry,’ he warned.

‘With our sector already compromised by lack of labour, this potentially tips us over the edge.’