Scientists warn that children under eight years old should not drink slushies
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Doctors warn that children should avoid slushies after a spate of hospitalisations
Doctors warn that children should avoid slushies after a spate of hospitalisations
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A new study has warned that young children could become ill within just an hour of consuming an iced slushy drink.
The drinks contain a potentially dangerous ingredient that could leave children under eight needing emergency medical treatment.
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A new study has found that nearly all of the 21 studied children (93 per cent) became unwell within an hour of drinking a slushy and no children had a medical history that could explain their symptoms.
The researchers concluded that a large dose of the sweetener glycerol can cause 'poisoning'-like symptoms in young children – called glycerol intoxication syndrome.
Symptoms of glycerol intoxication
Glycerol is used in slush drinks in the UK to give them a 'slushy' texture by stopping the liquid from freezing solid in the absence of a high sugar content, the authors explain in the study.
According to Food Standards Agency (FSA), glycerol is of low toxicity, but be dangerous for young children when large quantities are consumed over a short period of time. All children in the study required A&E treatment, but they all made a quick recovery.
The new study revealed that symptoms of glycerol intoxication syndrome typically come on within an hour of drinking a slush ice drink. Symptoms include:
Decreased consciousness
Hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar
Lactic acidosis, when the body produces too much lactic acid
Hypokalaemia, or low potassium
What age is it safe to drink slushies?
Current FSA advice states that under-fives should avoid slushy drinks and those under 11 should have no more than one. However, the researchers now argue that children under eight should not drink slushies.
Scientists have warned that young children should avoid slushy drinks
Scientists have warned that young children should avoid slushy drinks
"Clinicians and parents should be alert to the phenomenon, and public health bodies should ensure clear messaging regarding the fact that younger children, especially those under 8 years of age, should avoid slush ice drinks containing glycerol," the authors warned in the study.
They added that “there are no nutritional or health benefits from these drinks” and “they are not recommended as part of a balanced diet”.
The study was published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.