Americans may soon lose beer, seltzer and SODA as CO2 supplies go flat

Americans may soon lose beer, seltzer and SODA as CO2 supplies go flat because of drops in ethanol production during the pandemic - with 34 out of 45 US plants cutting down.

The lack of ethanol output is disrupting this highly specialized corner of the food industry.

34 of the 45 U.S. ethanol plants that sell CO2 have idled or cut production, according to Renewable Fuels Association Chief Executive Geoff Cooper
Brewers and soft-drink makers use carbon dioxide, or CO2, for carbonation, which gives beer and soda fizz.

Ethanol producers are a key provider of CO2 to the food industry, as they capture that gas as a byproduct of ethanol production and sell it in large quantities.

It has seen production drop sharply due to the drop in gasoline demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemicGasoline demand is down by more than 30 per cent in the United States


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