Holly Allan, aged three, collapsed within 20 minutes of having a slushy bought at a newsagents in Irvine, Ayrshire, and she spent five hours at a hospital’s A&E department
A mum has told how her toddler’s “eyes rolled back into her head” shortly after drinking a slushy bought at a newsagents.
Holly Allan, three, collapsed within 20 minutes of having the drink which was bought by her mum Laura Allan while they were out in Irvine, Ayrshire, and she spent five hours in a hospital’s A&E department last Sunday. Laura had bought a strawberry and blue raspberry mixed slushy for the youngster, as a treat but the youngster quickly became ill and she had to be rushed to hospital in an ambulance.
Slush Puppie drinks contain the ingredient glycerol – which in high quantities can make children go into a hypoglycemic shock. The Food Standards Agency has stated that manufacturers should carry a warning on their products since August, 2025.
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Laura, who was not previously aware of the risks, has now issued a warning to other parents over the dangers. In the aftermath of her ordeal, the 33-year-old said: “Do not give these to your kids.
“Holly fell to the floor an hour after drinking it and she was screaming her head was sore. She was sick for 45 minutes and her eyes rolled back in to her head before she went all floppy.
“The doctor thinks she managed to vomit most of it back up and her blood sugar is now back in normal range but I wouldn’t want this to happen to anyone else. I’ve never felt fear like that. I didn’t know that glycerol causes blood sugar to drop dangerously low, but I know now.
“The paramedics knew straight away though and I want highlight the risks and try to help make sure that this does not happen to any other children in he future.”
Laura purchased the drink from the JH News shop in the Rivergate Shopping Centre. Staff said they were very careful to make sure warning notices about the risks of glycerol to young children are on display.
A spokesperson for the shop told the Daily Record: “We are very sorry to hear what has happened to the little girl and hope she makes a full recovery and our heart goes out to her. As a responsible shop owner, we have displayed the warning signs.”
What is glycerol and why is it dangerous to kids?
Glycerol is an odourless liquid that is used as a sweetening agent and often put in slush syrup to create a thick ‘slushy’ effect.
Ice can be added to the syrup in a machine machine to make the drink, but if instructions are not followed carefully the drinks can contain dangerous levels of the ingredient. While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added in much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks.
In high quantities, especially to children under four, the dangerous liquid can cause glycerol intoxication. Symptoms of glycerol intoxication include sweating, shaking, feeling tired or weak, being confused, tingling lips, heart palpitations and if severe, unconsciousness and seizures.
If hypoglycemia develops, it is a potentially dangerous medical condition that occurs when your blood glucose levels are too low. If hypoglycemia is not treated, the plummeting blood sugar levels may lead to severe symptoms requiring immediate medical attention.