UK meat industry warns some firms have just five days CO2 supply

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Some of Britain's meat
processors will run out of carbon dioxide within five days,
forcing them to halt production, the head of the industry's
lobby group warned on Monday.

A jump in gas prices has forced several domestic energy
suppliers out of business and has shut fertiliser plants that
also produce carbon dioxide (CO2), used to stun animals before
slaughter and prolong the shelf-life of food.

The shortage of CO2, also used to put the fizz in beer,
cider and soft drinks, has compounded an acute shortage of truck
drivers in the UK, which has been blamed on the impact of
COVID-19 and Brexit.

"My members are saying anything between five, ten and 15
days supply," Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors
Association told Sky News.

With no CO2 the processor cannot operate he said.
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)