Research urges parents to avoid slushies for children under eight due to health risks

Study links slushie consumption to glycerol poisoning in children, prompting calls for stricter advice.

Listen to article

Health experts are urging parents to avoid slushies for children under eight after a study revealed that drinking these brightly coloured frozen drinks could cause severe health risks, including glycerol intoxication.

Researchers in the UK and Ireland found that 21 children, aged two to seven, required emergency medical treatment after consuming slushies containing glycerol, a sweetener that prevents them from freezing solid. The study, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, revealed that most of the children experienced symptoms of glycerol intoxication soon after drinking the slushies.

The children, who were treated between 2018 and 2024, suffered from symptoms such as unconsciousness, low blood sugar, and high acidity in the blood. In some cases, children needed brain scans, and one child even had a seizure. However, all of them recovered after receiving medical attention and were advised to avoid slushies in the future.

Slushies are designed to be appealing to children but contain glycerol instead of sugar, making them less likely to freeze. While this may seem like a healthier alternative to sugar-loaded drinks, the research found that glycerol can have toxic effects when consumed too quickly, especially in young children.

Current guidelines from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advise that children under five should avoid slushies, and those under 11 should consume no more than one. However, the study authors, who are paediatricians, are calling for stricter guidelines, suggesting that children under eight should avoid slushies altogether.

“The glycerol concentration in slushies is not transparent, making it difficult to determine a safe dose for children,” said the researchers. They added that factors such as the child’s weight, how quickly the drink is consumed, and whether it is consumed with food or after exercise could all influence the risk.

While some parents might be drawn to slushies because they contain less sugar, experts warn that this could be contributing to the rise in intoxication cases. With slushies increasingly popular among children, experts are urging a reevaluation of public health advice to ensure children’s safety.

The study’s findings have prompted a call for clearer public health guidelines to protect young children from the potential dangers posed by slushies.