Kids under eight shouldn’t drink slushies, researchers warn

Kids beneath 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 direction of kids typically use glycerol as a sweetener and anti-freezing agent.

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

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

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

Most circumstances befell between 2018 and 2024 and lots of the kids grew to become acutely unwell inside an hour, the researchers stated.

A lot 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 had been invented in america within the 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 a substitute.

The researchers urged the spate of circumstances might be linked to elevated concern about excessive sugar consumption and sugar taxes adopted within the UK and Eire lately.

Meals security businesses within the two nations already advise that kids aged 4 and beneath mustn’t have slushies containing glycerol.

However the researchers stated the age must be raised additional.

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

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

The evaluate’s authors additionally stated there might be circumstances the place kids have suffered much less critical sickness and never been taken to hospital.

In London, some dad and mom stated they supported elevating the really useful age.

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

“They each acquired 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 bit older.”

© 2025 AFP