Why is there a CO2 shortage in the UK, what is causing it, when will it end and what happens if we run out of carbon dioxide?
An unusually high number of factory closures which produce the gas has occurred
BRITAIN is suffering a carbon dioxide shortage which is having a serious knock-on effect on food and drink supplies.
Although Europe as a whole is affected, the UK is the worst hit and Brits could see less beer, bacon - and even crumpets - production being affected.
Why is there a CO2 shortage?
An unusually high number of factory closures, where the gas is produced, has occurred.
They produce CO2 as a byproduct of the fertiliser industry.
But as farmers don't need as much fertiliser over the summer, ammonia plants close down for essential works.
Many plants are or were shut and this has had a knock-on effect in other sectors that need CO2.
How are we running out of gas?
The current shortage of gas is because too many factories have shut at the same time across Europe.
It's also because the high price of natural gas means production has been limited in the UK.
In addition to this a fall in global ammonia prices means it has been cheaper for British fertiliser producers to buy in ammonia from abroad instead of producing it in the UK.
Amid all of these factors, only one of the plants in the UK is operational.
Food and drink suppliers rely on the British based plants as the gas is expensive to import.
What happens if we run out of gas?
The food and drink industry could see shortages of produce.
This is because carbon dioxide is used to slaughter farm animals, package food and make drinks fizzy.
Nine of the UK's largest poultry plants are now facing a critical shortage of the gas.
It means that up to 60 per cent of the UK's poultry processing plants could be knocked-out within days.
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Wetherspoons, which has over 1,000 pubs across the UK, warned that supply of draught lager and fizzy drinks could be cut off within days.
The shortage of gas has been heightened due to warm weather across Europe and World Cup when demand for fizzy drinks and beer is higher than normal.
And Coca-Cola has "temporarily paused" some production due to the national shortage of carbon dioxide.
Pepsi Max has fallen foul of the CO2 crisis with prices up by 8 per cent and stock numbers running seriously low.
Carbon dioxide is also used to create dry ice which keeps food frozen during transportation.