A two year old girl was left “20 minutes from death” after consuming a Slush Puppie at her friend’s birthday party. Arla Agnew, from Stranraer, had been enjoying the iced blue beverage at the party on Saturday but started showing signs of severe illness just half an hour later.
The toddler began to complain about feeling tired, her body turned grey and she lost consciousness. Arla’s grandmother, Stacey Agnew, knew something was off with the usually lively little girl, but was horrified when Arla suddenly seemed lifeless.
Stacey, 39, hurriedly took her granddaughter to Galloway Community Hospital on July 27, where doctors found she was in hypoglycemic shock. At the hospital, Arla was connected to an IV tube to help stabilise her, before being rushed to Dumfries and Galloway Hospital for further treatment.
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Recounting the horrifying experience, Stacey said: “We were at the park and usually you can’t get Arla away from it, but after she drank the Slush Puppie she started crying. She said she was tired so we took her home.” Stacey mentioned that Arla complained about feeling cold before rapidly drifting in and out of consciousness, reports the Daily Record.
She added: “We decided to take her to the local hospital but she became unresponsive in the car. It had only been half an hour since she had the drink, but we had no idea what was wrong. When we got to A&E they hooked her up to machines they checked her blood sugar. She was completely lifeless. I didn’t think she was going to make it.”
Arla’s blood sugar levels were dangerously low and Stacey said she was told the drink had caused the issue after talking with the hospital’s paediatric team.
She added: “We found out that Slush Puppies caused her illness and that there should be a warning on the syrup bottles to say they are not recommended for children under four. Before Arla was discharged, the doctor told us if we had been just 20 minutes later, things would have been very different. She could have died.”
Stacey described it as one of the ‘scariest days’ of her life. She said: “You would never think that you could nearly lose your granddaughter just because she drank a slush puppy.”
Hypoglycaemia occurs when the levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood drop too low. The ingredient Glycerol , found in Slush Puppie ingredients, can make children go into a hypoglycemic shock if ingested in high quantities.
The Food Standards Agency said since August 2023, manufacturers have been told to carry a warning on their products – but the drink Arla consumed, bought from B&M in July this year, apparently did not have a warning on the label.
Now, Stacey is urging others to know the risks of Glycerol. She said: “I’m urging parents, family members and carers of wee ones to check everything they are going to give to kids for the levels of glycerol in them. I have a big family and none of us knew the risks.”
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) provided a comment on the matter, acknowledging: “FSS is aware of a recent case of illness associated with consumption of a slush ice drink. Slush ice drinks, or ‘slushies’, can contain the ingredient glycerol as a substitute for sugar at a level required to create the ‘slush’ effect.”
The comment continued: “Although glycerol is generally of low toxicity, there are concerns about its effect on young children when large quantities are consumed over a short time. This is due to the potential for side effects such as headaches and sickness, particularly when consumed in excess.”
Detailing the serious implications of excessive intake, FSS concluded: “At very high levels of exposure, such as when several of these products are consumed by a child in a short space of time, glycerol can cause glycerol intoxication which can cause shock, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and loss of consciousness. FSS recommend that children four years of age and under should not consume these drinks”.
A spokesperson for B&M responded by asserting: “We have inspected the current stock and confirmed that the packaging adheres to the Food Standards Agency’s recommended guidance: ‘Product contains glycerol. Not recommended for children 4 years of age and under’.” Slush Puppies has not yet provided a statement on the matter.
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