Doctors warn slushies could be dangerous for children under 8 – here’s what parents need to know

What’s the concern with slushies?

Slushie drinks – those brightly coloured, icy concoctions that many kids love – often contain a sweetener called glycerol. It helps stop the drink from freezing solid and gives it that signature slushy texture.

While glycerol is naturally occurring and considered safe in small amounts, researchers have found that for young children, it can be dangerous if consumed too quickly or in high quantities.

A new study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood looked at 21 cases of children aged two to seven who became seriously ill within an hour of drinking a slushie. All needed emergency hospital treatment, with some losing consciousness and others suffering seizures or requiring brain scans.

How can slushies make kids unwell?

The condition seen in these children is called glycerol intoxication syndrome. Symptoms reported in the study included:

• Loss of consciousness
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• High acidity levels in the blood
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures (in one case)

While all the children eventually recovered, doctors are concerned that these incidents could represent just a fraction of the real picture.

"There could be a 'milder cohort' who may not need hospitalisation but still suffer symptoms such as nausea and vomiting," said Professor Ellen Crushell, one of the study’s lead authors.

What’s the current guidance – and could it change?

At the moment, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that slushie drinks should not be given to children under four, and that kids under 11 should only have them occasionally. However, the researchers behind this new study believe that advice doesn’t go far enough – and are calling for a new minimum age of eight.

The key concern is that it’s difficult for parents to gauge what a “safe” amount of glycerol is. The risks vary depending on how quickly a drink is consumed, whether it’s taken on an empty stomach or after exercise, and the weight of the child.

“Estimating a safe dose is therefore not easy,” the researchers explained. Basing guidance on age instead of weight, they argue, would be simpler for parents to follow.

Dr Sally Anne Wilson, chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s safer care committee, told BBC Breakfast: “As a parent, you want to make sensible decisions… 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].”

Why might this be happening now?

Slushies have been around for years – so why the sudden rise in concerns?

The study authors suggest that the shift towards low-sugar or sugar-free options, which are often seen as a healthier choice by parents, could be a factor. In the UK, where sugar tax legislation has led to a drop in sugar content, manufacturers are more likely to rely on glycerol. In other countries without a sugar tax, slushies often contain more glucose and little or no glycerol.

What should parents do?

While the FSA hasn’t changed its official guidance yet, it says it's “carefully considering” the findings of the review. In the meantime, it continues to “strongly encourage” parents not to give slushies to children under four and to limit them to older kids.

Rebecca Sudworth, director of policy at the FSA, said: “While the symptoms of glycerol intoxication are usually mild, it is important that parents are aware of the risks – particularly at high levels of consumption.”

For parents of children under eight, this new research is a timely reminder to check what’s in your child’s drink – and that sometimes, even a fun, frozen treat may carry hidden risks.

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