Food producers warn surge in cost of CO2 will force up prices for shoppers

George Eustice says government must give financial aid to fertiliser firm CF Industries for three weeks

Food producers have warned a surge in the price of carbon dioxide will force up prices for shoppers despite the government agreeing to spend millions of pounds on bailing out a private US firm that supplies gas to the industry.

George Eustice, the environment secretary, said financial support would be available for three weeks to restart production at the Teesside factory of CF Fertilisers, a company that supplies food-grade CO₂ as a byproduct to food and packaging firms.