With London in the grips of yet another heatwave, parents are being warned about the potential danger slush ice drinks, a popular treat with children in hot weather.
The slush drinks may pose a risk when they contain glycerol, with the Food Standards Agency advising against their consumption for those under the age of seven. Updated guidance from the FSA highlights the dangers glycerol intake can pose to young children over time.
Glycerol, also known as glycerin, a naturally occurring sugar alcohol, is colourless and odourless with a sweet taste, and has a variety of uses including as a sweetening agent. It’s often added to vibrant slushies instead of sugar to prevent them from freezing into a solid mass.
Despite being present in other foods at lower levels, the FSA emphasises that businesses should only use the minimum amount of glycerol needed to create the slushy consistency. In high doses, glycerol might lead to critically low blood sugar and unconsciousness in children.
The FSA’s advice applies not just to shop-bought slush ice drinks with glycerol, but also to home kits featuring the ingredient.
FSA chair Professor Susan Jebb said: “In the warm weather, children may be more likely to consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol, so it’s important that parents and carers are aware of the risks. As a precaution, the FSA is recommending that children under seven do not consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol. With our counterparts in Scotland, we will be talking to parent groups and charities to provide updated guidance that is useful and applicable across the UK.”
She added: “We expect industry to share data on the quantity of glycerol in their products to inform our future work. Meanwhile, there are immediate actions they can take that can help protect children and reduce the risk from these products. For example, retailers should limit cup sizes and should not offer free refill promotions to children under 10.”
Gavin Partington, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association, stated: “We welcome this updated advice from the Food Standards Agency on the consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol. As is standard practice, we will work with the FSA to provide Industry information about its use.”
He continued: “It’s worth noting that glycerol is authorised as an additive for use in the UK and Europe and has been used for many years by manufacturers of ‘slush’ ice drinks as a replacement for sugar in order to stop the product from freezing. Our members abide by all relevant and current ingredient legislation, including on glycerol. We support the FSA’s efforts to ensure parents have the right information to safeguard their children.”
The FSA’s warning comes following a study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood journal about the potential risks associated with drinks containing glycerol. The research reviewed 21 cases where children fell acutely ill after consuming such beverages.
The term ‘glycerol intoxication syndrome’ was coined by the researchers to describe the array of symptoms experienced by the children in the study, reports the Mirror. These included reduced consciousness, a sudden sharp drop in blood sugar, and a build-up of acid in the blood, similar to a form of poisoning or metabolic disorder.
According to the study, the 21 children initially diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, also known as low blood sugar or a “hypo”, ranged in age from two to seven years old. Except for one child, all were referred for further review between 2018 and 2024.
Out of the 21 children, 14 fell ill within an hour of drinking a slushy, and 16 experienced a significant and sudden reduction in consciousness, according to the study. All children recovered quickly after initial resuscitation and stabilisation of their blood glucose levels.
The study further claims that 20 out of the 21 children avoided slushies after their incidents and experienced no further episodes of hypoglycaemia. However, the one child who consumed a slush ice drink again, aged seven, developed similar symptoms within the hour.
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