Fear Christmas Dinner Will Be Victim Of Crisis

Christmas dinners could be “cancelled” due to the carbon dioxide shortage hitting the food industry, the UK’s biggest poultry supplier warned last night.

- David Maddox

Ranjit Singh Boparan, the owner of Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters Food Group, says this, combined with a lack of workers, will affect the supply of turkeys.

However, following talks with energy chiefs yesterday, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng insisted he was “reassured security of supply was not a cause for immediate concern”.

The food packaging industry warned of a shortage of meat at supermarkets after a hike in gas prices led to the closure of two fertiliser plants and a shortage of CO2. Mr Boparan said: “The supply of Bernard Matthews turkeys this Christmas was already compromised as I need to find 1,000 extra workers to process supplies. Now with no CO2— supply, Christmas will be cancelled.

“The issue is a massive body blow and puts us at breaking point, it really does – that’s poultry, beef, pork, as well as the wider food industry.

“Without CO2—, the bottom line is there is less throughput and with our sector already compromised by lack of labour, this potentially tips us over the edge.”