CO2 is widely used in the food processing and drinks industries. Coca-Cola says it has "temporarily paused" some production because of the shortage of CO2 gas. However, the soft drinks manufacturer says that so far the shortage has not affected supplies. Last week, the makers of Heineken's John Smith's Extra Smooth and Amstel said supplies had been hit. There are reports that the shortage is affecting deliveries of frozen foods, which are kept cool by dry ice, which is made by compressing CO2. A lot of CO2 is, simply put, created as a by-product from ammonia production that is used in the fertiliser industry. Other sources are bio-ethanol plants. However, a number of big mainland European fertiliser plants closed down for routine maintenance. And in the UK, only two of five plants that supply CO2 are operating at the moment.
