Doctors are urging parents to keep slushies out of reach of children under eight due to concerns over glycerol, a naturally occurring sweetener found in many “slushy” ice drinks. A study of 21 two-to-seven-year-olds who needed emergency treatment after consuming the drinks found that most experienced symptoms such as low blood sugar and loss of consciousness.
Researchers say the brightly coloured drinks are designed to appeal to young children but can be hazardous if consumed quickly. The UK’s Food Standards Agency currently advises under-11s to have no more than one slushie, while under-fives should avoid them altogether.
Lead author Professor Ellen Crushell warns that thousands of children drink slushies every day without suffering ill effects, but notes that a smaller group may experience milder symptoms. Paediatricians recommend changing the advice based on a child’s age instead of weight to make it easier for parents to interpret.
With lower sugar content in recent years becoming more attractive to parents, experts say the rise in children falling ill may be linked to this trend. Countries with no sugar tax tend to have slushies containing less glycerol and glucose. The Food Standards Agency is considering the study’s findings carefully and continues to advise against giving slushies to children under four.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l196l2k8ko