Supermarkets could run out of meat in just two weeks as the gas price crisis takes hold across the UK.
Energy prices are rising at an eye-watering rate due to surging demand post Covid, low wind speeds in Europe and power station closures.
Food firms and supermarkets say gas prices has caused a shortage of carbon dioxide, which is used in the meat industry.
Industry experts are now warning meat could disappear from shelves entirely if animals cannot be humanely slaughtered.
Christmas could now be at risk as supermarket bosses and suppliers struggle to get hold of stock.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association, said manufacturers have between five and 15 days' CO2 supply left.
He told Sky News that the shortage will particularly impact supplies of pork and chicken, as 80% of pigs and poultry are slaughtered using CO2.
He added: "Then they will have to stop. That means animals will have to stay on farms.
"That will cause farmers huge animal welfare problems and British pork and poultry will stay off the shelves.
"We're two weeks away from seeing some real impact on the shelves."
Supermarket bosses are also worried that CO2 shortages could become a problem in the run-up to Christmas.
Iceland managing director Richard Walker told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that this "could become a problem over the coming days and weeks".
He said: "This is not an issue that is months away, that is for sure.
"We are building up our stocks on key lines like frozen meat just to make sure we can deal with any unforeseen issue.
"At the moment we are fully stocked and our suppliers are OK, but we do need this sorted as quickly as possible."
It comes as energy prices are rising, creating a “perfect storm” scenario which, according to Industry group Oil & Gas UK, has seen gas prices rise 250% since January, and 70% since August.
Dale Vince, boss of green energy supplier Ecotricity, warned many energy companies will not make it to Christmas and said action must be taken to remove price caps and tax on energy bills while building renewable energy “as if there’s no tomorrow”.
The industry has warned that of the 70 suppliers that existed in January 2021, just 10 could remain by Christmas.
