New warning issued over slushie drinks as food safety chiefs restrict summer favourite beverage in under 10s
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said today parents should not give children aged under seven slush ice drinks containing glycerol.
The super-sweet substance is often used in slushies, brightly coloured ice cold drinks that are a mainstay at cinemas, soft play and parties especially in the warmer months.
But in updated advice the FSA has now warned that children aged between seven and 10 should not have more than one 350ml slush ice drink a day - the same size as a can of Coca Cola.
Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor at the FSA, said: 'As we head into the summer holidays, we want parents to be aware of the potential risks associated with slush ice drinks containing glycerol.
'While these drinks may seem harmless and side effects are generally mild, they can, especially when consumed in large quantities over a short time, pose serious health risks to young children.'
The new warning comes amid a surge in horrifying reports of children collapsing after consuming the drinks.
One two-year-old girl was left '20 minutes from death' after having a slushy drink at her friend's birthday party, according to her grandmother.
In March, doctors also blamed slushies for a spate of 21 hospitalisations in children who needed medical care within an hour of consuming the drinks.
Prof May added: 'That's why we're recommending that children under seven should not consume these drinks at all, and children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than one 350ml serving.'
Glycerol, also called E422 or glycerine on some labels, is a naturally occurring alcohol and sugar substitute which is added to slushies to keep them in a semi-frozen state.
Once ingested, the substance is known to be able to absorb a great deal of water and sugar from the bloodstream, before being broken down by the liver and kidneys.
It's this sudden loss of internal moisture and blood sugar that experts believe leads to the serious and potentially life-threatening reaction in younger children.
It is thought that when young children have several servings in a short period of time, glycerol can cause the body to go into shock, resulting in a loss of consciousness known as glycerol intoxication.
This updated advice applies to ready-to-drink slush ice drinks with glycerol in patches and home kits containing glycerol slush concentrates.
As the UK faces its third heatwave the FSA is urging parents to stay vigilant and check for glycerol on drinks labels before giving a slush ice drink to their children.
If it is not clear whether a drink contains the substance, the FSA advises parents to err on the side of caution and simply not allow their children to drink it.
Prof May added: 'We're working closely with industry to ensure appropriate warnings are in place wherever these drinks are sold.
'In the meantime, we are asking parents and carers to take extra care when buying drinks for young children, particularly during warmer months when consumption of 'slushies' typically increases.'
It comes as one grandmother last year told how her granddaughter was left '20 minutes from death' after consuming a slushy drink at her friend's birthday party.
Arla Agnew became 'grey' and fell unconscious only half an hour after sipping half of the drink at the event on Saturday.
Stacey Agnew said she knew something awry with the toddler, and was left terrified when she suddenly appeared lifeless.
After rushing the tot to Gollaway Community Hospital, medics determined the child had gone into hypoglycemic shock - and the ice drink may have been to blame.
But the case was just one in a wave of young children being sickened after consuming slushies.
Earlier this year in March, a terrified mother also warned of the dangers of popular slushy drinks after her two, young sons suffered what appeared to be a dangerous reaction to the beverages.
Roxy Wallis, from Cambridgeshire, was shocked to find her sons vomiting, deathly pale and looking 'lifeless' minutes after consuming just 300ml of the drinks, equivalent to less than a can of Coke.
The 36-year-old believes they suffered from glycerol toxicity—dangerously low blood sugar triggered by iced artificially sweetened slushies.
In the same month, another mother also shared how her four-year-old was left 'floppy and unconscious' and rushed to hospital after consuming a drink at a children's play centre.
Marnie Moore, from Lancashire, was rushed to hospital where she received urgent treatment for glycerol toxicity.
Her mother, Kim Moore, 35, is now calling for a ban on the drinks for under 12s.
'If I hadn't taken her to hospital, it may have had a different outcome,' she said.
'So many places promote free slushies when you play there but you're promoting poison.
'I don't think they should be sold to kids 12 and under. And I personally wouldn't allow my child to drink one at all. It's not a risk I'm willing to take.'
Slushies were traditionally made with a sugar solution to prevent the liquid ingredients from fully freezing, at about 12g of sugar per 100ml.
But formulas using glycerol only need 5g per 100ml to achieve the same result.
Authorities have previously warned that just one 350ml drink containing the equivalent of about 17.5g of glycerol––which is around three teaspoons––could theoretically tip under-fours over the 'safe' threshold.
But experts warn older children can also be at risk of glycerol intoxication from consuming multiple E422-laden drinks in quick succession.
According to regulator the FSA most slushies contain around 16g of glycerol.
However, there is no maximum amount of glycerol that manufacturers have to legally adhere to and most brands don't state how much glycerol is in each slushie.
Some brands like Slush Puppie have already removed glycerol from their recipes in response to the concerns about the ingredient.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Fears for patient safety as resident doctors ready for strike
Resident doctors from the British Medical Association are due to begin a five-day walkout on Friday in a dispute over pay, marking their 12th strike since March 2023. Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England national director, warned that the industrial action will harm patients, stressing doctors' primary duty to patient care. While the BMA cites pay as the reason, Professor Briggs suggested resident doctors' concerns are more focused on non-pay factors such as rotas, training bottlenecks, and funding for courses. NHS England plans to cover emergency services and some elective care, but the BMA argues this could put patients at risk as senior doctors cannot cover both emergency and routine demands. NHS England has advised the public to use 111 online for non-emergencies during the strike.
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Urgent recall issued by popular coffee brand as they urge customers to immediately throw out pods
New Mexico Pinon Coffee has voluntarily recalled 154 units of Single Serve Cups sold in 10-count boxes. The company issued the recall after discovering that food coloring may have been placed in the cups during the brewing process. Each cup included a 'Product Number: F03308 UPC: 812361033081' label and are part of lot code 251749 with a best-by date of May 8, 2026. While the products are sold at various retailers like Walmart and Target, the company has not clarified where the affected products were distributed. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeled this as a Class III recall, and there have been no reports of injury or illness as a result of the issue. 'While the issue was isolated and poses no health risk, it didn't meet the standard of excellence you've come to expect from us,' Pinon Coffee president Matthew Bregar said in a statement. 'We've already addressed the issue and taken steps to refine our process moving forward.' Shoppers who've purchased an affected pod are advised to dispose of them immediately or return them to the store for a full refund. The FDA labeled the recall as a Class III, the least severe type of recall that can be issued The latest coffee recall came months after 692 decaffeinated cases were recalled due to a labeling error. The products were found to have been full-strength coffee, which could be a health risk for drinkers with high blood pressure or heart conditions. It also comes following an urgent recall on over 100,000 bars of ice cream across 23 states. The recall was initiated over fears of a listeria contamination, but it is unclear if anyone has gotten sick from the ice cream. Even though food has been a frequent recall this year, hundreds of thousands of vehicles have also been recalled over safety risks. Ford recalled nearly 850,000 vehicles in the US earlier this month due to fears of potential engine stalls from low-pressure fuel pump failure. It was initiated less than a month after GM recalled 62,468 vehicles.
The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
The signs of postnatal depression to look out for
Up to 85,000 new mothers in England may have been impacted by postnatal depression last year, according to new analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). The RCPsych warns that untreated postnatal depression, which affected almost 15 per cent of new mothers, can be 'truly devastating' and lead to the 'unnecessary' deaths of women and sometimes their babies. Maternal suicide is highlighted as the leading cause of death in women from six weeks to a year after birth. Symptoms can include persistent feelings of sadness, low mood, a lack of interest, trouble sleeping, and potentially thoughts of harming the baby. The RCPsych urges women and their partners to seek support for these treatable conditions, which can be managed with talking therapies or antidepressants, with medics assuring medication safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
