16/03/2025
A new study has raised concerns about slushies, advising that children under eight years old should avoid the brightly coloured icy drinks due to a key ingredient glycerol which can cause serious health issues.
Researchers at University College Dublin found that glycerol, a sugar substitute used to keep slushies from freezing solid, can lead to "glycerol intoxication syndrome" in young children.
Symptoms include loss of consciousness, dangerously low blood sugar, lactic acidosis, and low potassium levels.
Currently, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that children under four avoid slushies altogether, while those between five and 10 should be limited to one per day.
However, researchers now suggest all children under eight should steer clear of them entirely.
The study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, examined medical records of 21 children aged between two and seven in the UK and Ireland who needed emergency treatment after consuming slushies between 2009 and 2024.
Fourteen of them fell ill within an hour of drinking one.
While all the children recovered, researchers stressed that slushies offer no nutritional benefits and should not be part of a balanced diet.
Should there be clearer warnings about slushies and their risks?
