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Slushies are a popular, colourful drink in the UK and US. However, doctors say they contain glycerol which can cause children to lose consciousness if consumed too quickly.
New research suggests that children under the age of eight should completely avoid slushy ice drinks. This is because they contain glycerol, which can make young people very ill and even lose consciousness.
Cases of 21 young children in the UK and Ireland were studied. All of these children needed emergency treatment quickly after consuming a slushy product.
Currently, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that anyone under five should avoid the drinks entirely and under-11s should have no more than one. This new research indicates that the age of avoidance should be pushed up to eight.
There are concerns that if a young child drinks a slushy too quickly, glycerol intoxication could cause shock, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and loss of consciousness. This is all the more problematic when consider that these drinks are marketed specifically for younger consumers, often featuring bright colours and designs that appeal to kids.
All of the children in the study needed A&E treatment, with every incident happening between 2018 and 2024. Most lost consciousness and showed signs of low sugar and high acidity in the blood. Four needed brain scans and one had a seizure.
Thankfully, all recovered and were discharged from hospital.
Lead study author, Professor Ellen Crushell, said that these cases could be the ‘tip of the iceberg’ for children who fall sick once consuming the drinks. She did emphasise that thousands of slushies are drunk every day without negative effects.
