Recent research suggests that young children should steer clear of sugar-free slushees due to potential health risks. A study led by British and Irish scientists examined the medical records of 21 children who became severely ill after consuming slushees made with glycerol, an ingredient used to prevent the drinks from fully freezing.
This ingredient has gained popularity in the UK and Ireland, particularly following the introduction of sugar taxes in those countries. Out of the 21 cases reviewed, 20 occurred after the implementation of these taxes, with the children affected ranging in age from two to nearly seven. The findings, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, identified a condition referred to as glycerol intoxication syndrome, which manifested in various acute symptoms shortly after ingestion.
Key symptoms of this condition included a marked decrease in consciousness, rapid onset of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), and metabolic acidosis (an excessive build-up of acid in the blood). These symptoms, particularly when presenting together, raised concerns about possible poisoning or underlying metabolic disorders, necessitating further medical investigation. Notably, 15 of the children exhibited symptoms within an hour of consuming the slushee, and many of them displayed significantly reduced consciousness—one child even experienced a seizure.
The study found that 20 of the children suffered from hypoglycaemia, with 13 experiencing severe cases. Additionally, metabolic acidosis was noted in 16 of 17 cases, along with low potassium levels and inaccurately high blood fat readings in several cases. Thankfully, all children recovered quickly following initial medical treatment and were advised to avoid slushees in the future. Most adhered to this advice; however, one child who consumed another slushee later developed symptoms again, leading to emergency intervention.
The researchers believe current guidelines, which recommend that children under four avoid sugar-free slushees and those aged five to ten limit themselves to one, may not be stringent enough. They highlighted the lack of transparency regarding the glycerol content in these drinks, making it difficult to establish a safe consumption level. Factors such as the speed and quantity of intake, whether consumed with food or during exercise, may also impact how glycerol affects health.
To mitigate these risks, the researchers propose determining safe glycerol consumption levels based on body weight, as well as potentially raising the recommended minimum age for consuming these drinks to eight years. Sugar-free and no-added-sugar slushees are also available in Australia, yet caution is advised when offering these to children.