Health Experts Advise No Slushies For Children Under Eight
Parents often weigh the pros and cons of the treats they share with their little ones. From sugary cereals to fizzy sodas, it’s not always easy to spot which snacks come with hidden risks.
A recent health alert has spotlighted one particularly eye-catching favorite: slushies. Those bright, icy drinks that kids beg for at the cinema or amusement park may carry an ingredient that, in high amounts, can send a child to the emergency department.
Slushies owe their smooth, semi-frozen texture to glycerol, a common food additive that prevents them from freezing solid. In most cases, glycerol poses no harm; when used in small doses, it helps keep the drink slushy rather than rock-hard.
But a new review of 21 cases involving two-to-seven-year-olds in the UK and Ireland shows that too much glycerol can trigger severe symptoms within an hour of drinking. All 21 children needed urgent medical care after consuming slushies.
Many lost consciousness and showed signs of low blood sugar and high acidity in their blood. Four of them required brain scans to rule out more severe damage, and one child even experienced a seizure. While these incidents are rare, they highlight a risk most parents wouldn’t expect from a brightly colored drink.
New warnings advise children under eight to skip slushies.
Current guidance from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends that children under four should avoid slushies altogether. For kids between four and ten, the advice is to limit intake to one slushy per outing. Parents might assume that these limits are set in stone, but some experts think they need tightening.
“There’s definitely an argument for raising the minimum age,” says Rebecca Sudworth, director of policy at the FSA. She explains that bumping up the age limit could discourage younger children from drinking slushies and reduce the chances of glycerol overload.
Sudworth adds, “We continue to strongly encourage parents to follow our advice, which is that slushie drinks should not be given to children under four years old. Retailers are also advised to make parents fully aware of this guidance.”
Getty Stock PhotoThe main concern is that glycerol can lead to shock, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness. While most children recover quickly once treated, the sudden onset of symptoms can be frightening and, in some situations, dangerous.
The study documenting these cases appears in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, and it serves as a wake-up call to both parents and retailers.
Slushies contain glycerol, which can make young children sick in just a few hours. o3-mini
Dr Sally Anne Wilson, chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s safer care committee, points out that many parents simply don’t realize glycerol is even in slushies. “As a parent, you want to make sensible decisions about what you buy your child,” she told BBC Breakfast. “If you’re not aware that there’s glycerol in the slushie and what that can do, then you’re not going to have any qualms about buying it.”
Dr Wilson also notes that age-based guidelines aren’t foolproof. “Children’s weight can vary hugely,” she explains. “A drink that’s safe for a ten-year-old might be too much for a smaller six-year-old.”
This variability means that some kids might face risks even if they’re technically old enough to have a slushy under current rules.
Getty Stock PhotoSo what’s the takeaway for parents? First, check the ingredients list when you can. If glycerol is listed, think twice before handing over that icy cup.
Second, follow the FSA’s recommendations: keep slushies off the menu for children under four and limit older children to a single drink. Finally, talk to your local cinema or park concession stand about how they communicate these guidelines to families.
Slushies can still be an occasional treat, but a little extra caution goes a long way. By staying informed and sticking to sensible limits, parents can help ensure that a fun day out doesn’t end with an unexpected trip to A&E.
