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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.
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 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
The gas is also used for everything from putting fizz in soft
