For a few months the managers of supermarkets have been complaining about low stocks of fizzy water, beer and fizzy drinks, but now the situation seems to suddenly precipitate. The absence of carbon dioxide is in fact leaving shelves throughout Italy empty.
The CO2 shortage is so serious that it can stop some of the largest sparkling water companies in Italy and, if the government does not find a solution, many other producers may have to stop their production, even if only temporarily.
There is no CO2, they close the activities
Due to persistent drops in CO2 supply, both Acqua Sant’Anna and Acqua S.Pellegrino had to stop producing sparkling water for a few days already this summer. Managers are very worried about the current situation because between the rise in the price of raw materials and the rise in inflation they no longer have access to adequate quantities of carbon dioxide, an essential ingredient for the production of carbonated soft drinks.
But now the whole beer sector is in danger, in particular Menabrea beer, so much so that the offices issued a press release to La Repubblica, last September 20, stating: “The lack of carbon dioxide is also a problem for us . Today we are stopped at the Biella plant, but tomorrow we hope to be able to start again ”.
This crisis affects, in particular, large companies, as carbon dioxide is used to keep oxygen out of the bottles, while for small artisan businesses it is still possible to use the normal fermentation process.
Pietro Di Pilato, councilor of Unionbirrai and owner of the Brewfist brewery in Codogno explains the situation by declaring: “The problem in the sector is indeed there, even here. Smaller breweries are less affected because they tend not to use carbon dioxide in the packaging phases, but those of medium and large size pay the consequences of the lack of raw material. There is not enough carbon dioxide for everyone. Above all, it is missing in the liquid version “.
All drinks at risk
The first “victim” of the lack of CO2 came at the beginning of July, when the manufacturer of Acqua Sant’Anna stopped the production of its carbonated drinks. Then, between 15 and 16 September, the Ruspino dell’Acqua San Pelegrino plant closed its doors, leaving its employees at home with a paid permit.
Not only beer and sparkling water are at risk, this particular crisis also includes carbonated drinks, such as Coca-Cola, orange juice, energy drinks and the aperitif that symbolizes Italians: the spritz.
Coca-Cola has found a solution by starting a process of self-production of CO2, but for the spritz all that remains is to temporarily change the recipe and hoping that this situation will end as soon as possible.
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