A new study found that at least 21 children were hospitalized over 15 years after drinking slush ice drinks containing glycerol, a sweetener used to create the “slush” effect. The Archive of Disease in Children reported that 93% of the children became unwell within 60 minutes of consumption, with symptoms including decreased consciousness and low blood sugar levels.
Glycerol was found in all the children’s urine samples, but none had a history of medical conditions. After hospitalization, 95% of the children did not experience reoccurrence of illness. The study urged parents to avoid giving slushie drinks containing glycerol to children under 8 due to potential side effects.
The Food Standards Agency recommends that children under 4 should not consume such drinks, citing risks of headaches and sickness in excess consumption cases. Glycerol is generally considered safe but has poor transparency around concentration levels, possibly leading to hospitalizations.
Rebecca Sudworth, director of policy at the FSA, emphasized the importance of parents being aware of the risks, especially with high consumption levels.
Source: https://people.com/at-least-21-children-hospitalized-after-drinking-slushies-with-glycerol-11695313