Health experts have issued a stark warning to parents after dozens of young children were left seriously ill following the consumption of popular slush ice drinks containing a sweetening agent known as glycerol.
A new study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, reviewed the cases of 21 children under the age of eight who became acutely unwell shortly after drinking slushies. The children developed a cluster of alarming symptoms, now referred to by doctors as “glycerol intoxication syndrome” — a condition linked to sudden loss of consciousness, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), and acid buildup in the blood.
Glycerol, a sugar substitute and naturally occurring alcohol, is commonly used in slush drinks to prevent them from freezing solid. While UK guidelines already advise against serving such drinks to children under four, health professionals are now calling for this threshold to be raised to at least eight years old.
Rapid Onset of Symptoms
Researchers from University College Dublin said most children became ill within an hour of drinking slushies, with some experiencing seizures and extreme drowsiness. All 21 children were treated in emergency departments across the UK and Ireland and were later discharged with guidance to avoid glycerol-containing drinks in future.
One such case involved three-year-old Angus Anderson, who was rushed by ambulance to Glasgow Children’s Hospital in January 2024 after developing severe symptoms linked to glycerol toxicity. His mother, Victoria, was told the reaction had likely been caused by a slush drink.
Experts Urge Public Health Review
The study’s authors said: “Clinicians and parents should be alert to the phenomenon. Public health bodies must ensure clear messaging around the risks associated with slush ice drinks for younger children.”
They also criticised the lack of transparency over how much glycerol is actually present in slush drinks, warning that safe dosage is hard to determine, particularly due to variations in children’s weights and metabolic rates.
The researchers concluded: “There are no nutritional or health benefits to slush ice drinks. They are not recommended as part of a balanced diet, and safety guidance must reflect that.”
FSA Guidelines May Not Go Far Enough
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) currently advises that:
- Children under four years old should not consume slush drinks with glycerol.
- Children aged five to 10 should limit consumption to one slushie per day.
However, experts now argue this guidance may be insufficient and are recommending an age limit of eight years and above, or clearer weight-based safety measures.
Parents Urged to Be Cautious
With slushies being widely available in cinemas, leisure venues, and supermarkets, the findings are likely to prompt renewed calls for tighter regulation and clearer labelling.
Parents are urged to read ingredient lists carefully and seek medical attention immediately if a child shows symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, sweating, or unresponsiveness after drinking a slushie.
