Shoppers have been warned that they may notice products missing from supermarket shelves 'in about 10 days'.
The chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation gave the stark message this morning
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ian Wright described the potential shortages of CO2 supply as "a real crisis" and said "the just-in-time system which underpins both supermarkets and hospitality industry is under the most strain it has ever been in the 40 years it has been there".
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He said that poultry production will begin to erode very seriously by the end of this week, with the same being true of pig production and the making of bakery goods.
Meat packaging is probably only about a week behind, he added.
He said: "We probably have about 10 days before this gets to the point where consumers, shoppers and diners notice that those products are not available."
It comes after a supermarket boss warned food supply shortages could happen in the “coming days and weeks” if the carbon dioxide issue continues.
Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, said Christmas food supplies could be impacted by a reduced supply of the gas – but stressed that the damage could be felt much sooner.
Meanwhile, trade body leaders have called on the government to "urgently ensure adequate supplies" of carbon dioxide to keep food production going.
"This is no longer about whether or not Christmas will be okay, it’s about keeping the wheels turning and the lights on so we can actually get to Christmas," the supermarket executive told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday.
"This could become a problem over the coming days and weeks, so this is this is not an issue that’s months away."
The shortage has been driven by soaring gas prices, which resulted in two US-owned fertiliser plants in the UK – which produce 60% of the UK’s carbon dioxide – shutting down last week.
Pig farmers have also been warned they'll be forced to "slaughter their own animals" to dispose of them if the situation facing the industry does not change.
The chairman of the National Pig Association, Rob Mutimer, has called on the government to “act now” to prevent the needless destruction of thousands of animals, as farms grapple with a lack of space and feed due to supply chain issues.
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