Diet gun

The UK Food Standards Agency recommends that children under seven should not drink slushies due to the glycerol they contain.

Children aged 8 to 11 should also only have one glass of slushie (granita).

Glycerol is a well-known food additive with the code number E422. It is used as a key ingredient in the production of slush drinks as it has the ability to help maintain the semi-frozen texture of the drink by preventing the liquid from freezing completely.

Children may experience a concern after consuming slushies because glycerol can cause very low blood sugar levels with specific symptoms known as glycerol poisoning.

Usually, symptoms appear even after consuming 350 ml of slushies (like 1 can) in children up to 7 years of age, while in children aged 8 to 11 years, after consuming 500 ml or even a smaller amount if consumed quickly.

These symptoms are headache, nausea, vomiting. These symptoms can also appear within an hour after consuming the slushies.

However, if symptoms of severe hypoglycemia, difficulty breathing, turning the skin blue or loss of consciousness appear, the child must immediately seek medical help.

It requires great attention especially in the summer months when children crave such frozen drinks more.

Our attention must be focused not only if we consume slushies in a store that offers soft drinks or from a slushie machine, but also if we want to prepare slushies at home using the ready-made factory products that are for this purpose and are available in abundance in markets.