The Food Standards Agency has issued an urgent warning to all parents with children under seven years old during the summer holidays.
The Food Standards Agency has sounded the alarm for parents with young children, issuing a stark health warning as the summer holidays approach. The FSA has warned that kids under seven should steer clear of slush ice drinks containing glycerol due to potential health risks.
The school summer holidays and the hot weather are the perfect combination for children to spend time outdoors with their friends. As the ice cream truck drivers go around the streets, many get tempted to grab a treat or two (including us, the adults). However, it seems that slushies should be kept away from the littlest ones – and here’s why.
An alert circulated online by the agency highlighted: “Did you know that children under seven should not consume slush ice drinks or ‘slushies’ with glycerol?” The advisory continued, flagging up the risk that glycerol poses in causing various health issues in little ones. In other similar news, Asda shoppers have been told to stop using common household device.
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The array of health complications that could arise includes nausea, headaches, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), shock and even loss of consciousness.
The FSA’s latest guidance advises against giving children under seven any slush ice drinks with glycerol and recommends that those under 10 should only have one 350ml drink – roughly the size of a standard can of fizzy drink.
They explained: “Check with the seller about the drink’s glycerol content – don’t buy if in doubt.” Parents are also directed to visit a specific website for further details.
Echoing previous reports, experts have warned against allowing children under eight to indulge in glycerol-laden slushie drinks. Despite their appealing colours and sweet taste, which often attract children, recent studies have brought to light serious health concerns associated with these popular icy treats.
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A study published in the British Medical Journal has raised concerns over the safety of slush drinks for children, reports the Liverpool Echo. The research analysed 21 cases involving children aged between two and seven from the UK and Ireland, who required emergency medical care after consuming these popular frozen beverages over the past six years.
The BMJ study revealed a worrying link between slushies and ‘glycerol intoxication syndrome’, a condition that can cause symptoms such as nausea and unconsciousness. Glycerol, a natural sweetener commonly used in slush drinks to stop them from fully freezing and to give them their distinctive texture, is at the heart of the issue.
Overconsumption of glycerol can lead to intoxication, potentially causing hypoglycaemia (a sudden drop in blood sugar), reduced consciousness, and an accumulation of acid in the blood.