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The selection of food on supermarket cabinets will begin dwindling this weekend due to a shortage of carbon dioxide, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned.
CO2 is used to stun cattle, put fizz in carbonated drinks and is utilized in packaging, however is in brief provide.
FDF chief govt Ian Wright mentioned CO2 provides weren't anticipated to renew till subsequent week.
He acknowledged that whereas food and drink wouldn't run out, "choice will be eroded".
Mr Wright informed the BBC's Today programme: "We will see fewer rooster dishes, fewer pork and bacon dishes.
"We'll see probably less carbonated drinks and certainly bakery and other things that benefit from what's called modified atmosphere packaging, which is plastic packaging with a tray underneath and a dish of food in them."
A lot of firms have reported disruption to manufacturing due to the shortage.
Most just lately Warburton's, which is the UK's largest producer of crumpets, mentioned it has been pressured to halt manufacturing at two of its 4 vegetation.
The firm makes use of carbon dioxide to provide its crumpets a longer shelf life and stop mould.
The British Retail Consortium mentioned: "We are conscious of particular pressures in some areas reminiscent of carbonated tender drinks, beer, British rooster and British pork however the majority of food merchandise are unaffected and retailers don't anticipate food shortages.
"However, it is likely that the mix of products available may be affected."
The FDF's Mr Wright acknowledged that even when provides of CO2 resumed subsequent week, it will take a while earlier than it made its method to food and drink producers as a result of "inventories of products have been eroded quite a lot over the last week and not many people keep very large stocks of products because it is not cost-efficient".
Scotland's largest abattoir is closed and different meat producers are contemplating adapting their merchandise to make use of much less CO2.
Some food and drink corporations have requested whether or not the federal government may assist alleviate the issue.
"The government can't do everything on this, it has to be the suppliers who react," mentioned Mr Wright. "But I think government can put a lot of pressure ongovernment can ask suppliers where they've taken factories out as a consequence of planned maintece to put them back into production."
What is the issue?
CO2 is extensively used within the food processing and drinks industries. It places the fizz into beer, cider and tender drinks, and is utilized in food packaging to increase the shelf lifetime of salads, fresh meat and poultry.
The gasoline can be used to stun pigs and chickens earlier than slaughter, and create dry ice to assist preserve issues chilled whereas in transit.
However, a number of UK and mainland European producers of carbon dioxidea by-product from ammonia manufacturing that's used within the fertiliser tradeclosed for upkeep or scaled down operations.
In the UK, solely two of 5 vegetation that offer CO2 are working for the time being.
The shortage comes on the identical time demand for food and drink is hovering. "The football, the weather, the BBQs have created the sort of demand for beer we only see at Christmas," one huge UK brewing firm informed the BBC.
What are the pubs saying?
Earlier within the week, the Wetherspoon and Ei Group pub chains reported they'd briefly run out, or have been in need of, manufacturers together with John Smith's, Strongbow, Amstel and Birra Moretti.
However, on Thursday, Brigid Simmonds, chief govt of the British Beer and Pub Association, mentioned brewers have been "working their socks off around the clock to ensure there is still plenty of beer to go around".
"The UK can produce as a lot as 10 million pints of beer per day, and with indicators of issues enhancing, pubs will definitely not be working dry.
"Our message to beer drinkers... is clear: Keep calm and carry on going to the pub. If your usual beer of choice isn't available, then why not use it as an opportunity to try something new?"
What concerning the meat trade?
Meat processors are contemplating shortening "sell by" dates as a result of packaging will comprise decrease ranges of CO2, and there have been issues about animal welfare if animals do not go to slaughter at their traditional price.
"The last few days have alerted the country to how dependent we are on CO2," Nick Allen, chief govt of the British Meat Processors' Association, informed the BBC on Thursday.
He criticised CO2 producers for a lack of knowledge about when carbon dioxide provides would possibly return to regular. "It makes planning difficult," Mr Allen mentioned.
The British Poultry Council mentioned its members continued to dwell "day-to-day" as they tried to stretch out their dwindling provides of the gasoline.
What does the federal government say?
The meat trade has grow to be more and more annoyed by a lack of knowledge coming from CO2 corporations and the UK authorities specifically over when provides would possibly return to regular.
"They are not telling us, which means we can't plan," mentioned Richard Griffith, from the British Poultry Council.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department of Business have each mentioned they're monitoring the state of affairs.
When can the trade anticipate extra provides?
The trade commerce journal Gas World, which first reported the information that CO2 was working quick, acknowledged that two tankers filled with liquid CO2 from mainland Europe have been delivered to ports within the UK prior to now couple of days.
A lot of European vegetation are starting to extend provides, whereas one other manufacturing unit that had closed due to technical points moderately than upkeep, is because of come again on-line in mid-July.