Britain faces a bacon shortage as pig processing plant suspends slaughter due to a lack of CO2
Tesco-owned food wholesaler Booker, which supplies pubs and restaurants, is rationing beer and cider due to the gas production crisis
THE nation faces a bacon shortage after one of its biggest pig processing plants suspended slaughter due to a lack of CO2.
And Tesco-owned food wholesaler Booker, which supplies pubs and restaurants, is rationing beer and cider due to the gas production crisis.
It is used at Quality Pork Limited, in Brechin, Angus, to stun the animals before they are killed.
A Europe-wide shortage — also affecting the production of other meats, beer and fizzy drinks — means they have had to ship 1,000 pigs to a plant near Manchester this week.
The gas shortfall is understood to be caused by a break in production of ammonia — a key source of food grade CO2.
Trade journal Gas World called it the “worst supply situation to hit the industry in decades”.
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The UK had just one major plant in operation this week and imports from Europe have been hampered by closures in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Nick Allen, of the British Meat Processors Association, said: “The frustration is the lack of information.
"If things don’t alter this week, we’re going to see people having to make some serious decisions, mainly in pig production.”
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