FSA warns slush-ice drinks are “not suitable” for young children due to glycerol exposure risk

15 Aug 2023 --- The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued new guidance for the slush-ice drink industry, advising that these products should not be sold to children under four.

The FSA says that glycerol, a substance used to prevent freezing, can cause headaches and sickness in young children and, in some cases, more severe health problems.

Food safety authorities are aware of two cases in Scotland – one in 2021 and another in 2022 – where children were hospitalized due to glycerol intoxication.

Authorities warn that “at very high levels of exposure – typically when a child drinks several of these products in a short space of time – glycerol intoxication could cause shock, hypoglycemia and loss of consciousness.” 

The FSA also recommends that retailers not offer free refills to children under ten years old to avoid excessive glycerol consumption. Furthermore, authorities do not discard taking further action in the future or reassessing industry guidelines.

Underreported intoxications?
According to the FSA Head of Additives, Adam Hardgrave, “while the symptoms of glycerol intoxication are usually mild, it is important that parents are aware of the risks – particularly at high levels of consumption.” 

The FSA reveals that It is likely that there is under-reporting of glycerol intoxications.“It is likely that there is under-reporting of glycerol intoxication, as parents may attribute nausea and headaches to other factors.”

“We are grateful to those manufacturers who have already taken steps to reduce levels of glycerol and to those who have already told us they will be adopting our new guidelines.

Glycerol, a sugar substitute in slushes
Manufacturers use glycerol as a substitute for sugar “to create the slush effect,” according to the FSA.

To combat intoxications, new guidance asks businesses to only add glycerol “at the minimum quantity technically necessary to achieve this effect.”

“While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks,” explains the FSA.

Science-based guidance
The FSA based its guidance on the worst-case scenario of a child drinking a 350 ml slush drink with the highest amount of glycerol (50,000 mg/L). This could cause adverse effects if the child’s body weight is below a specific limit. 

The FSA found that children under four would be at risk of exceeding this limit, while older children would be safe from one slush drink.

 The FSA considered the average weight of children at different ages in its assessment and advice. 

By Marc Cervera