UK strikes deal over CO2 gas shortages      

CO2 is used in the vacuum packing of food products, to put the fizz into beer, cider and soft drinks and to help with food deliveries in the solid form of dry ice. 

UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng met the CF Industries boss, Tony Will, and had told broadcasters that the UK government could provide financial support to get production started again.

Britain has struck a deal with CF Industries for the American company to restart the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) after soaring gas prices forced it to halt operations, threatening the supply of meat in the country.

Meat processors had warned they too would need to halt production in days, with gaps soon to appear on supermarket shelves, if production did not resume, because CO2 is used to stun animals for slaughter and preserve the shelf life of meat.