Food and drink manufacturers have warned that supermarket shelves could be left empty again as they were at times last year because of a change in the rules coming into force today.
Last year the Government stepped in to protect supplies of Carbon Dioxide - which is used in food manufacturing and packaging.
The gas is used for everything from making drinks fizzy to packing fresh food and is used in the slaughter of animals for meat.
Last year the Government offered a subsidy to a major Carbon Dioxode producer which had to shut down because of rocketing energy prices.
But that subsidy ends today.
The Food and Drink Federation is warning supermarkets could now suffer shortages of some foods.
CF Industries, which supplies 60% of the UK's food grade CO2, said they "continue to negotiate" over prices, reports the BBC.
Last year, CF Industries temporarily shut its facilities in Cheshire and Billingham and supermarkets saw limited stocks of some food items.
