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A popular summertime treat could contain hidden dangers to kids’ health, a new study cautions.
Researchers at University College Dublin conducted a review of 21 children who became ill between 2009 and 2024 after consuming a “slush ice drink.”
A vast majority of the children, none of whom had preexisting medical conditions, became ill within an hour of having the drink.
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The patients, who ranged in age from 2 to 6 years old, all received medical treatment in the U.K. and Ireland.
A popular summertime treat could contain hidden dangers to kids’ health, a new study cautions. (iStock)
The most prevalent symptoms included acute decrease in consciousness, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), metabolic acidosis (lactic acid build up in the bloodstream), pseudohypertriglyceridaemia (falsely elevated triglycerides) and hypokalaemia (low potassium levels), according to the findings, which were published in BMJ Journals.
“The children had very low blood sugar levels, were unconscious (one had a seizure) and had high levels of lactate in their blood,” lead study author Ellen Crushell, a pediatrician at Children’s Health Ireland and a clinical professor at University College Dublin, told Fox News Digital.
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“They had high levels of glycerol in their blood and urine when sick, which disappeared when they recovered. They recovered well, but needed hospitalization and intravenous fluids.”
The researchers concluded that consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol may cause a syndrome called glycerol intoxication.
The majority of the children (95%) did not have continued symptoms after avoiding the drinks.
What is glycerol?
“Glycerol is used as a sweetener and to maintain the semi-frozen texture of some (not all) slush ice drinks,” Crushell said.
“It is being used more often in recent years as a sugar substitute,” she noted. “Large doses can be harmful to small children.”
The researchers concluded that consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol may cause a syndrome called glycerol intoxication. (iStock)
The effect of sudden illness after consuming a slush drink had never been reported in medical literature, Crushell noted.
This study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
“The numbers are small and include only the sickest children who were brought to emergency departments and who were referred on to specialists in inherited metabolic disorders,” Crushell said.
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“They were referred because their symptoms were similar to those of some rare metabolic diseases. We do not know the extent of children who may develop milder symptoms.”
The other limitation is that the amount of glycerol ingested in the various slush drinks is unknown, she added.
Recommendations for parents
Crushell noted that slush ice drinks “do not convey health benefits at any age” and are not recommended as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
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The UK Food Standards Agency and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have both issued guidance recommending that children 4 and under avoid consuming slush ice drinks containing glycerol, and for children 5 and up to only drink them in moderation.
The researcher noted that slush ice drinks “do not convey health benefits at any age” and are not recommended as part of a healthy, balanced diet. (iStock)
“The use of slush ice machines by children in the home should be monitored,” Crushell advised. “Parents and guardians should check the ingredients of syrups used to make slush ices in the home for the presence of glycerol and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.”
The researchers hope this new study could lead to the development of new policies and guidance in related to glycerol ingestion.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and to a leading manufacturer of slush drinks requesting comment.
