What You Need to Know About Beer Carbon Dioxide

In the hospitality industry, businesses ranging from bars and restaurants to breweries infuse carbon dioxide in products such as beer, soft drinks and sparkling water. Impurities can affect the taste, quality and consistency of these beverages, which is why carbon dioxide is specifically processed for use in food and beverages. Like a number of your favorite drinks that have gas additives, beer carbon dioxide is typically beverage-grade – >99.9% pure, safe product for consumption – and produces the bubbles, fizz and freshness you enjoy.

Yes, beverage-grade CO2 is absolutely real and used in food and beverage products you consume every day. Beverage-grade CO2, like beer carbon dioxide, is >99.9% pure with just .10% being comprised of molecules like water, oxygen and hydrocarbons. Regulatory agencies and industry organizations, like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Compressed Gas Association (CGA), set the specifications and standards for what is considered a “beverage-grade” purity level.

Yes, there are distinct differences between the two forms of CO2. As we mentioned above, beverage-grade CO2 must meet stringent purity standards to ensure it’s free of contaminants that may affect taste, safety or the quality of the beverage. Beverage-grade, like beer carbon dioxide, is >99.9% pure, meaning there are less imperfections than typical air. Welding CO2, a typical industrial gas Terry Supply Company offers for a variety of applications, contains impurities that are suitable on projects, like on construction sites or in factories – not for consumption.

Beverages with carbonation, infused with carbon dioxide to preserve the taste, consistency, freshness and quality, are CO2 drinks. For example, beer carbon dioxide creates the bubbles seen in bottled, canned and draft brews. The same can be said for soft drinks, and sparkling waters and wines. The gas is dissolved under pressure, providing the effervescence and texture that consumers expect from CO2 drinks.

Yes, CO2 is safe to drink – it’s a non-toxic, colorless, odorless gas that is naturally-produced around us. It’s also present in carbonated beverages, like beer and soft drinks. For example, beer carbon dioxide is specifically purified to beverage-grade standards. When dissolved in beverages, CO2 is an enjoyable additive that creates fizz and freshness.

Industry associations and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), set strict purity standards for beverage-grade CO2 – carbon dioxide that is safe to use in food and drinks. For example, beer carbon dioxide, which is beverage-grade CO2, is >99.9% free from impurities with just .10% being made up of molecules like oxygen, water and hydrocarbons.

CO2 for soft drinks and other beverages, including beer carbon dioxide, is typically sourced as a byproduct of industrial processes, like ammonia synthesis production, or through methods like fermentation. The gas is purified to beverage-grade standards and delivered to businesses through suppliers, like Terry Supply Company.

Yes, SodaStream CO2 is safe for use at home. Like beer carbon dioxide, SodaStream CO2 cylinders are filled with beverage-grade carbon dioxide, adhering to strict safety and purity standards.

Beverage-grade CO2, such as beer carbon dioxide, is the purest form of carbon dioxide, meaning it satisfies strict standards and is free from contaminants. In the U.S., you can expect beverage-grade – also known as Grade I – to be >99.9% pure with the other .10% composed of molecules such as water, oxygen and hydrocarbons.

No, welding CO2 is not suitable for SodaStream as these systems require highly purified gas for consumption. Beer carbon dioxide, which is the beverage-grade CO2 also used in SodaStream cylinders, adheres to strict safety standards needed for carbonating beverages.

Yes, Airgas provides food-grade CO2, which meets the strict purity standards required for safe use in beverages like beer. Terry Supply Company not only offers food-grade CO2, like beer carbon dioxide, but also a full line of CO2 products, prompt local service and we always view you as a valued customer – not a number.

Yes, CO2 is safe for humans and isn’t poisonous. However, CO2 is a simple asphyxiant, which can replace or displace oxygen in the air we inhale. Beer carbon dioxide, for example, uses beverage-grade CO2 which is highly purified to meet safety standards. There is no evidence that points to carbonation in beverages as being harmful.

As mentioned above, CO2 is a simple asphyxiant, which means it replaces oxygen we breathe in the air. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), mild CO2 exposure may cause headaches and drowsiness. Moderate CO2 exposure can lead to symptoms like rapid breathing, confusion, dizziness and increased heart rate. High levels of CO2, replacing oxygen in the blood, can be extremely dangerous to your health. However, it’s completely safe to consume beverages infused with CO2, like beer carbon dioxide.

According to Cleveland Clinic, carbonated water can cause negative side effects including:

• Tooth decay
• Stomach pain
• Burping/bloating
• Gas