They might seem like a harmless , nostalgic summertime goody , but a little - known ingredient in some frozen slushies can bewilder a serious health peril for some kids . In a unexampled study , experts reexamine 21 cases of children who became unwell after deplete these products and necessitate whether the time is right to update public health steering , to ensure parent are inform about the danger .
The trouble with glycerol
The ingredient in interrogation is glycerol . It ’s commonly found in the “ no - bring - gelt ” or “ clams - devoid ” interlingual rendition of slushies that are widely usable in the UK and Ireland , where the enquiry team are base . The reason it ’s added is to aid keep that characteristic slush texture in the absence of added kale . It may also seem on labels as glycerin orfood additiveE422 .
For most adults and older small fry , casual economic consumption of the levels of glycerol in these products will not stimulate a trouble . But for younger kids , there ’s a jeopardy of a potentially serious unwellness called glycerol intoxication syndrome .
The authors say their sketch is the first to take a close smell at this syndrome across a series of children , all of whom received medical treatment between 2009 and 2024 after ingesting a slushy .
The median age of thesechildrenwas 3 age and 6 months , with 38 percent of them aged 4 and under . This age mathematical group is known to be at fussy risk of glycerol intoxication syndrome as the effects areassociated with body system of weights – sometimes , the amount of glycerol in a slushy can be too much for a little kid ’s body to handle , especially when consume quickly or in surfeit .
What can happen to kids when they consume glycerol?
One of the cardinal features of this condition is how quickly it can gift – of the 15 kids for whom this information was uncommitted , 14 of them became poorly within 1 60 minutes of consuming the drinkable .
There are three independent clinical features that , together with a chronicle of recent slushy uptake , can lead a doctor to a diagnosis of glycerol inebriety : reduce consciousness , a sudden drop cloth in blood lucre ( hypoglycaemia ) , and acid buildup in the rip ( metabolic acidosis ) .
Of the 21 children in the survey , 20 had documented hypoglycemia , some severe . Of the 17 children for whom this data point was usable , 16 had metabolic acidosis . One of the children had a seizure , and four underwent urgent neuroimaging .
Thankfully , all 21 children recover promptly after their line refined sugar was stabilize . They were advised to steer clear of slushies in the future ; one child did consume another of the beverage at the long time of 7 and once again developed rapid hypoglycemia , ensue in an ambulance being called .
While the field period covered 2009 - 2024 , most of the cases were from 2018 - 2024 , indicating a late increment . The research worker suggest this could concur both with increasing parental concern aroundsugarintake , prompt parents to select loot - free alternatives more oftentimes , as well government revenue enhancement on high - sugar product in the UK and Ireland .
They also note that in regions without suchlevies , slushies are in general high in sugar and may contain no glycerol at all .
What does the study recommend?
It ’s not the first time that case of glycerol poisoning syndrome have hit the headlines , and both the UK and Irish nutrient regulator did take natural action . In 2023 , theUK Food Standards Agencyrecommended that the drinks not be throw to kids under 4 , and that free refill promotions should not be offered to tiddler under 10 . In 2024 , theFSAIalso said Thomas Kyd under 4 should not be given the drinks , and that 5 - 10 - year - olds should stick to one per day .
However , the written report authors hint it might be time for an even stricter posture .
“ There is poor transparency around slush sparkler potable glycerol concentration ; estimating a safe dose is therefore not easy , ” they write .
“ To check secure population - level recommendations can be well interpreted at the individual parental level , and given the variability across an age cohort of weight , we advise that recommendation should be found on exercising weight rather than age . or else , the recommended age verge may postulate to be in high spirits ( 8 years ) , to check the Cupid’s disease per weight would not be exceeded give way normal population mutant in weight . ”
Enjoying a mushy at the film or the sightly is a core childhood memory for many of us ; however , it ’s important that parents translate how the component of these products may have change over time and pay attention to these recommendation to avoid a potentially scary health billet .
The field is published in the journalArchives of Disease in Childhood .
The content of this clause is not intended to be a substitute for professional aesculapian advice , diagnosing , or intervention . Always seek the advice of qualified health supplier with interrogative sentence you may have regarding aesculapian conditions .
