A machine for producing liquid and semi-liquid consumer food products comprises one or more containers (2) for a basic product of the consumer product to be made a refrigeration system (3) acting on the containers (2) to reduce the temperature of the basic product the refrigeration system (3) comprising a predetermined refrigerant the refrigerant being carbon dioxide and the refrigeration system (3) being set up to carry out a transcritical refrigeration cycle on the refrigerant.