Apparatus for the introduction of CO.sub.2 snow into containers for cooling the container contents or the container, comprises a CO.sub.2 snow generating device for generating the CO.sub.2 snow, a CO.sub.2 snow injection device connected to the CO.sub.2 snow generating means and having a snow tube for injecting the generated CO.sub.2 snow into the container, a the CO.sub.2 gas separating arrangement for separating CO.sub.2 gas and CO.sub.2 snow in the region of the snow tube, and the CO.sub.2 gas extraction arrangement for extracting separated the CO.sub.2 gas, the CO.sub.2 gas separating arrangement comprises an outer tube surrounding the snow tube and arranged coaxially with the outer tube projecting beyond the snow tubed in longitudinal direction thereof at the CO.sub.2 snow delivery side of the snow tube and being connected to the CO.sub.2 gas extraction arrangement in the region of the opposite side.