Experts have issued an alarming health warning for the hidden dangers of a little known additive in a popular children’s drink.
Called glycerol, the super sweet substance is a common ingredient in ‘slushies’-clear, colorful ice-cold drinks that are a supporting pillar in cinemas and corner shops.
But in updated advice, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has now warned that slush -ice drinks with glycerol are not suitable for children younger than seven.
It comes as a wave in horrible reports of children who collapse after consuming the drinks.
A two -year -old girl was left ’20 minutes of death’ after a slushy drink at her boyfriend’s birthday party, according to her grandmother.
Experts said that only one 350 ml drink, about as much as from Coca Cola, could be sufficient to cause problems in children under four.
For young people aged five to ten, one and a half of these drinks can have dangerous effects if they are quickly consumed.
In March, doctors also blamed slushies for a wave of 21 hospital admissions in children who needed medical care within an hour after consuming the drinks.
Arla Agnew (photo) was left behind ’20 minutes of death’ after consuming a slushy drink at her boyfriend’s birthday party, according to her grandmother
Her grandmother, Stacey Agnew said she knew something wrong with the toddler, and had remained terrified when she suddenly seemed lifeless
The updated FSA advice applies to ready-made slush ice drinks with glycerol in bags and home kits with glycerol slush concentrates.
Glycerol, also called E422 or glycerine on some labels, is a naturally occurring alcohol and sugar replacement that is added to slushies to prevent them from freezing.
Once taken, it is known that the substance absorbs a lot of water and sugar from the bloodstream before it is broken down by the liver and kidneys.
It is this sudden loss of internal fluid and blood sugar that experts believe leads to the serious and potentially life -threatening reaction in younger children.
Professor Susan Jebb, FSA chair, said: ‘In the warm weather, children can rather consume glush -ice drinks with glycerol, so it is important that parents and carers are aware of the risks.
‘As a precaution, the FSA recommends that children younger than seven do not consume glush -ice drinks that contain glycerol.
“With our counterparts in Scotland we will talk to parent groups and charities to offer updated guidelines that are useful and applicable in the United Kingdom.”
She added: ‘We expect the industry to share data about the amount of glycerol in their products to inform our future work.
Roxy Wallis feared that she would have to bring her sons Austin (back) and Ted to the hospital after they suddenly became sick and listless after consuming popular slushy drinks
She said it normally became ‘bubbles’ couple sick within just a few minutes after consuming the drinks
‘In the meantime, there are immediate actions that they can take that can help to protect children and reduce the risk of these products.
“Retailers, for example, have to limit cup formats and are not allowed to offer free refill promotions to children younger than 10.”
Gavin Partington, director -general of the British SOF Drinks Association, said: “We welcome this updated advice from the Food Standards Agency about the consumption of slush -ice drinks with glycerol.
‘Just like standard practice, we will collaborate with the FSA to provide information about the industry about its use.
‘It is worth noting that glycerol is authorized as an additive for use in the UK and Europe and has been used for many years by manufacturers of “slush” -e drinks as a replacement for sugar to prevent the product from freezing.
‘Our members adhere to all relevant and current ingredients legislation, including glycerol.
“We support the FSA’s efforts to ensure that parents have the right information to protect their children.”
It comes when a grandmother told last year how her granddaughter had left ’20 minutes of death ‘after consuming a slushy drink at her boyfriend’s birthday party.
FSA Chiefs based their recommendations on a 350 ml drink, similar to those available in shops and movie theaters in the United Kingdom
Arla Agnew became ‘gray’ and only fell unconscious for half an hour after half the drink during the event on Saturday.
Stacey Agnew said she knew something wrong with the toddler and was terrified when she suddenly seemed lifeless.
After they brought the toddler to Gollaway Community Hospital, doctors found that the child had gone into hypoglycemic shock – and the ice drink was perhaps the fault.
But the case was only one in a wave of young children who were sick after consuming slushies.
Earlier this year in March, a terrified mother also warned of the dangers of popular slushy drinks after her two young sons suffered, which seemed to be a dangerous reaction to the drinks.
Roxy Wallis, from Cambridgeshire, was shocked when they broke her sons, turned out to be deadly and looked ‘lifeless’ minutes after consuming only 300 ml of the drinks, equivalent to less than a can of cola.
The 36-year-old believes that she suffered from glyceroltoxicity-dangerous low blood sugar caused by iced artificially sweeted slushies.
In the same month, another mother also shared how her four -year -old ‘floppy and unconscious’ remained and hurried to the hospital after consuming a drink in a playing center for children.
Four -year -old Marnie Moore spent three days in the hospital after consuming a REM with a 500 ml slushy drink
Kim Moore bought the slushy drinks for both daughters: Marnie, Four and Orla, six
Marnie Moore, from Lancashire, was rushed to the hospital, where she received urgent treatment for glyceroltoxicity.
Her mother, Kim Moore, 35, is now calling for a ban on drinks for less than 12 years.
“If I hadn’t taken her to the hospital, it might have had a different result,” she said.
‘So many places promote free slushies when you play there, but you promote poison.
‘I don’t think they should be sold to children aged 12 and younger. And I would not allow my child to drink one at all. It is not a risk that I am willing to take. ‘
Slushies were traditionally made with a sugar solution to prevent the liquid ingredients from freezing completely, with about 12 g of sugar per 100 ml.
But formulas that Glycerol use only need 5 g per 100 ml to achieve the same result.
Authorities have previously warned that only one 350 ml of drink with the equivalent of approximately 17.5 g, (about three teaspoons) could theoretically indicate the ‘safe’ threshold.
But experts warn that older children also run the risk of having glycerol intoxication by consuming several E422-loaded drinks in succession.
According to Regulator, the Food Standards Agency contain the most slushies about 16 g glycerol.
However, there is no maximum amount of glycerol that manufacturers must adhere to.
Most brands do not indicate how much glycerol is in each slushy.
Some brands have already removed glycerol from their recipes in response to the worries about the ingredient, where Slush Puppie is one of them.
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