The United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency has issued a stark warning to parents, advising that children under the age of seven should not consume shop-bought slushy drinks due to health concerns surrounding a chemical ingredient they contain.
According to the FSA, these icy beverages often include glycerol, a sweetening agent commonly used in place of sugar to prevent the drinks from freezing solid, thus maintaining their slushy consistency.
However, this chemical has now been linked to potentially harmful effects in young children.
Children aged between seven and ten are also advised to limit their intake, with a maximum recommended quantity of 350ml per day, approximately equivalent to a standard can of fizzy drink.
Highlighting the risks, the FSA said excessive consumption of glycerol can lead to adverse symptoms such as headaches, nausea, low blood sugar, shock, and even loss of consciousness in children.
“While these drinks may seem harmless and side effects are generally mild, they can, especially when consumed in large quantities over a short time, pose serious health risks to young children,” explained Prof Robin May, the FSA’s chief scientific advisor.
The updated guidelines follow an investigation into incidents involving 21 children aged between two and seven across the UK and Ireland, who were taken to emergency departments after becoming seriously unwell within an hour of consuming slushies.
These cases occurred between 2018 and 2024, and thankfully, all the affected children recovered and were later discharged.
A registered dietitian and member of the British Dietetic Association, Dr Duane Mellor, told the BBC that such cases were “relatively rare.”
However, he noted that environmental factors like heat, dehydration, and excitement could worsen the symptoms after drinking glycerol-containing slushies.
To minimize health risks, Dr Mellor advised healthier alternatives for children: “Water or cold milk” are better options, while sweet cravings could be satisfied with “fruit flavoured water with ice cubes, a diet drink or a low-sugar ice lolly.”
Previously, the FSA had only cautioned against slushies for children under five. The new, tighter recommendations reflect recent evidence and now extend the caution to include children under seven completely, while restricting consumption for those up to ten years old.
Prof May emphasized the need for vigilance, especially during hotter months when slushy drink sales typically surge, “We are asking parents and carers to take extra care when buying drinks for young children, particularly during warmer months when consumption of ‘slushies’ typically increases.”
The advice also extends to slushy drinks sold in pouches and DIY slushy kits. In light of the findings, the FSA recommends that retailers display written warnings at the point of sale, and urges manufacturers to use only the minimum amount of glycerol necessary to produce the slushy texture.
Additionally, the FSA advises that venues popular with young children avoid offering free refills of these drinks to limit excessive intake.
