Urgent Warning: Slushies with Glycerol Are Dangerous for Kids Under Eight

In a concerning revelation, pediatric health experts are cautioning against slushies containing glycerol for children under the age of eight. After reviewing medical notes from 21 children who became severely ill shortly after consuming these icy treats, researchers are urging parents and health officials to rethink current safety guidelines.

The alarming findings originated from a study published in the *Archives of Disease in Childhood*, which documented cases where young children exhibited similar symptoms, including decreased consciousness and dangerously low blood sugar levels, following slushie consumption. This condition has been termed glycerol intoxication syndrome.

Glycerol, a sugar alternative and natural alcohol, is commonly added to slushies to keep them from freezing solidly. Although slushies containing glycerol are currently not recommended for children under four in the UK, the researchers—led by Professor Ellen Crushell from University College Dublin—are calling for this recommendation to be expanded to include all children under eight.

The review highlighted that all but one of the 21 cases occurred between 2018 and 2024, involving children aged from two to nearly seven years old. Upon arriving at emergency departments, all children were promptly diagnosed with hypoglycemia. Shockingly, 14 of these children became ill within just an hour after enjoying a slushie.

The range of troubling symptoms associated with glycerol intoxication included hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream), and hypokalemia (low potassium levels). The researchers stressed the importance of vigilance among healthcare providers and parents alike, emphasizing that public health agencies need to provide clear guidance about the risks that slushies pose to younger children.

As per the Food Standards Agency's existing guidelines, children under four should avoid slushies containing glycerol. For kids aged five to ten, consumption should not exceed one slushie per day. The study highlights that 15 of the children were observed within a timeframe where they could pinpoint the onset of symptoms, reinforcing that ingestion speed and portion size might play critical roles in the risk of adverse effects.

Impressively, all children initially affected by glycerol intoxication ultimately recovered swiftly with advice to abstain from further slushie consumption. Out of the cohort, 20 adhered to this warning without any subsequent incidents of low blood sugar. However, one child did relapse after trying a slushie at the age of seven, falling ill within an hour.

The researchers pointed out the lack of clarity concerning the glycerol concentration in slushies, making it difficult to establish safe consumption levels. They suggested that recommendations should focus on the weight of the child rather than solely on age, or potentially increase the age benchmark for safe consumption to eight years, ensuring that children of varying weights could avoid dangerous dosages.

Most concerningly, the study concluded that "there are no nutritional or health benefits from these drinks." With the holiday season upon us, parents are urged to reconsider letting their children indulge in these sugary, frozen drinks. Avoidance may indeed be the best course of action for the health and safety of our youngest population.