The glycerol in sugar-free slushies has been blamed for a spate of very sick kids (Deposit photos).
Researchers have warned that children under the age of 8 should avoid slushy ice drinks containing glycerol. This comes after a series of hospitalizations in the U.K. and Ireland linked to these popular frozen beverages.
The Hidden Risk in Slushies
Slushy drinks, often marketed to kids, use glycerol as a sweetener and antifreeze agent. While generally safe in small amounts, excessive glycerol can be harmful. In young children, it can lead to glycerol intoxication, causing low blood sugar, shock, and even loss of consciousness.
A recent medical review published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood highlights a surge in such cases. Researchers examined medical records of 21 children, aged two to seven, who required emergency treatment after consuming slushies.
Sudden Illness After Slushie Consumption
Most incidents occurred between 2018 and 2024. Many children fell severely ill within an hour of drinking slushies. Symptoms included loss of consciousness, high blood acidity, and dangerously low blood sugar levels. Some children required brain scans, and one even experienced a seizure.
Fortunately, all affected children recovered quickly. However, experts believe there may be unreported cases where symptoms were milder, preventing hospital visits.
A Possible Link to Sugar Reduction Efforts
Slushy machines have been around since the 1950s, and not all slushies contain glycerol. Traditionally, sugar was used to prevent the drinks from freezing solid. However, the recent push for sugar reduction, coupled with the introduction of sugar taxes in the U.K. and Ireland, may have led to increased use of glycerol as a substitute.
Food safety agencies in both countries already advise that children under four should avoid glycerol-containing slushies. However, researchers now recommend extending this restriction to children under eight.
Parents and Experts Call for Action
The study urges parents, healthcare providers, and public health officials to be more aware of the risks. Researchers emphasize the need for clear warnings about glycerol in slushy drinks.
Some parents in London are already reconsidering these beverages. Elsa Qorri, a mother of two, shared her experience after her five- and seven-year-old daughters drank slushies last year. "They both got brain freeze and couldn’t have any more," she said. "I’m not going to buy them again until the girls are a little bit older."
As concerns grow, experts hope increased awareness will help protect young children from the potential dangers of glycerol in slushy drinks.
