Brightly coloured slush drinks are designed to appeal to children – but most contain the naturally occurring sweetener glycerol, instead of sugar, to stop them freezing solid and give the slushy effect.
Several of the children required hospitalisation (sometimes with a degree of resuscitation) when they presented with a history and symptoms consistent with glycerol intoxication. Details of these cases can be found here.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has updated its voluntary guidance, advising now that:
- children under 7 years old should not consume slush drinks containing glycerol,
- glycerine, or food additive number E422.
- free refills should not be offered in venues where children under the age of 10 years are likely to consume them
Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a new campaign to increase awareness of the risks, further adding that children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than one 350ml serving per day.
A new FSA rapid risk assessment of glycerol effects in children takes a more precautionary approach than the assessment from 2023, which was based on average body weight. The change is based on assessing the impact of one serving of slush ice drink (350ml) on children with a lower-than-average body weight for their age.
A spokesperson for Food Standards Scotland said: “The updated risk assessment highlights that younger children, particularly those with lower body weight, are more vulnerable to the effects of glycerol. We’re advising that these drinks should not be consumed by children under seven to minimise the risk of harm.
“Parents, carers and businesses all play an important role in helping to ensure that slush ice drinks are consumed safely.” The updated advice also applies to ready-to-drink slush ice drinks with glycerol in pouches and home kits containing glycerol slush concentrates.