Parents and carers have been warned about giving their children slushies as new research points to major health risks.
A study on slush ice drinks found that those containing glycerol could induce glycerol intoxication.
In 'Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks', published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, 21 children were reviewed as part of a study.
The objective of the research was to describe a series of children who became "acutely unwell" shortly after consuming a slush ice drink.
Little ones may suffer headaches and sickness, particularly when slushies are consumed in excess
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These 21 children were presented to centres across the UK and Ireland from 2009 through 2024.
Experts found that an enormous 93 per cent became unwell within 60 minutes of consuming a slush ice drink.
The children ranged from two years old to six years and months, meaning a median age of three years and six months. None had any relevant past medical history.
The majority (95 per cent) subsequently avoided slush ice drinks and did not experience a reoccurrence.
In a warning to parents and carers, the research concluded: "Consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol may cause a clinical syndrome of glycerol intoxication in young children.
"Clinicians and parents should be alert to the phenomenon and public health bodies should ensure clear messaging regarding the fact that younger children, especially those under eight years of age, should avoid slush ice drinks containing glycerol."
In its guidance on food additives, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shared some essential information about glycerol.
The FSA stated: "Slush ice drinks can contain the ingredient glycerol as a substitute for sugar, at a level required to create the 'slush' effect.
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The FSA recommends that children aged four and under should not consume these drinks
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"At this level, we recommend that children aged four years and under should not consume these drinks.
"This is due to their potential to cause side effects such as headaches and sickness, particularly when consumed in excess."
For more information on glycerol and the guidelines for businesses that produce slush drinks, Britons can consult the FSA's Approved additives and E numbers page.
The Government department has also published industry guidance on glycerol in slush-ice drinks. An excerpt read: "The FSA's risk assessment considered a worst-case exposure scenario in which a child consumed a 350ml slush drink containing the highest level of glycerol used (50,000 mg/L) and compared this to a threshold above which adverse effects could occur. Children aged four or below would exceed this threshold.
"Those above the age of four are considered unlikely to suffer ill effects from drinking one slush drink. This is because the effects of glycerol are related to body weight. The FSA's risk assessment and advice considered the average weight of children at different ages."
