Youngsters below eight should not drink slushies, researchers warn

Kids below eight mustn’t drink slushy ice drinks containing glycerol, researchers have warned after a string of hospitalizations within the UK and Eire.

The brightly coloured drinks marketed in the direction of kids usually use glycerol as a sweetener and anti-freezing agent.

However excessive ranges will be dangerous, particularly to kids—glycerol intoxication could cause shock, low blood sugar and lack of consciousness.

In a peer-reviewed medical assessment printed within the Archives of Illness in Childhood journal on Tuesday, researchers regarded right into a “latest obvious surge in instances” within the UK and Eire, and instructed kids below eight ought to keep away from the drinks completely.

They studied the medical information of 21 kids aged two to seven who wanted emergency remedy after ingesting slushies.

Most instances happened between 2018 and 2024 and most of the kids grew to become acutely ailing inside an hour, the researchers stated.

Many of the kids misplaced consciousness and confirmed indicators of excessive blood acidity and low sugar, whereas 4 wanted mind scans and one had a seizure.

The kids all recovered swiftly, the researchers stated.

Slushy machines have been invented in america within the Nineteen Fifties, and the drinks don’t all the time comprise glycerol as a result of sugar can be utilized to cease them freezing strong as an alternative.

The researchers instructed the spate of instances could possibly be linked to elevated concern about excessive sugar consumption and sugar taxes adopted within the UK and Eire lately.

Meals security companies within the two international locations already advise that kids aged 4 and below mustn’t have slushies containing glycerol.

However the researchers stated the age ought to be raised additional.

“Youthful kids, particularly these below eight years of age, ought to keep away from slush ice drinks containing glycerol,” they stated.

“Clinicians and oldsters ought to be alert to the phenomenon, and public well being our bodies ought to guarantee clear messaging.”

The assessment’s authors additionally stated there could possibly be instances the place kids have suffered much less critical sickness and never been taken to hospital.

In London, some mother and father stated they supported elevating the really useful age.

Mom Elsa Qorri, 46, advised AFP she grew to become apprehensive after her two ladies aged 5 and 7 drank slushies final 12 months.

“They each received mind freeze and could not have any extra,” she stated. “I am not going to purchase them once more till the women are a bit of bit older.”

© 2025 AFP