Children under the age of 8 should not drink slimy ice drinks containing glycerol, researchers warned after a series of hospitalizations in the UK and Ireland.
Brightly colored drinks sold for children often use glycerol as a sweetener and preservative.
However, high levels can be harmful, especially for children. Glycerol addiction can cause shock, hypoglycemia and loss of consciousness.
With peer-reviewed medical reviews, Childhood Disease Archives Journal On Tuesday, researchers looked into “recent obvious spikes” in the UK and Ireland, suggesting that children under the age of 8 should avoid drinks entirely.
They studied the medical records of 21 children, ages 2-7, who needed emergency care after taking thrassi.
Most cases took place between 2018 and 2024, and many children developed acute illness within an hour, the researchers said.
Most of the children lost consciousness and showed signs of high blood cell acidity and low sugar, but four brain scans were required, one had a seizure.
All the children recovered quickly, researchers said.
Although washing machines were invented in the US in the 1950s, drinks do not necessarily contain glycerol as sugar can be used to stop solids from freezing instead.
Researchers have suggested that this could be linked to growing concerns about sugar consumption and sugar tax employed in the UK and Ireland in recent years.
Food safety agencies in both countries have already advised that children under the age of four should not have slushy containing glycerol.
However, researchers said they should raise their age even further.
“Your younger children, especially those under the age of 8, should avoid slash ice drinks containing glycerol.” They said.
“Clinicians and parents should be aware of the phenomenon, and public health agencies should ensure clear messaging.”
The author of the review also stated that children may develop more severe illnesses and may not be taken to hospital.
In London, some parents said they support raising the recommended age.
Her mother, Elsa Kohli, 46, told AFP she was worried after the 5-year-old and seven girls drank slussi last year.
“They both got brain freezes, but they didn’t have one anymore,” she said. “I’m not going to buy it again until the girl is a little older.”
©Agence France-Presse
