and salads, to prolong shelf life. the recent sharp rise in gas prices led to cf industries stopping work at two factories, which then led to a shortage of c02. one food industry group warned that consumers would start noticing gaps on supermarket shelves within days, if there was no intervention. ministers have not revealed what kind of incentives they offered cf industries to restart production. our business editor simonjack has the latest. when you think of cheese, you probably don t consider carbon dioxide a vital ingredient. if not in the cheese itself, but like many other food in the cheese itself, but like many otherfood products, c02 is used in the packaging process to extend sheh the packaging process to extend shelf life. the boss of this cheese producer has been told by his supplier his c02 deliveries are in jeopardy at a crucial time of year. we are now routinely empty on our stocks and we are living hand to mouth on a day to day basis. so at a