Children nether 7 should not portion slushies containing glycerol owed to nan superior wellness risks they tin cause, nan Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.
Glycerol is simply a people occurring intoxicant and sweetener substitute that helps slushies support their texture by preventing liquid from freezing solid.
Children who go sick arsenic a consequence of drinking slushies create glycerol intoxication syndrome, which causes symptoms specified arsenic decreased consciousness and debased humor sugar. Other symptoms see lactic acidosis, which occurs erstwhile nan assemblage produces excessively overmuch lactic acid, and hypokalaemia, aliases debased potassium.
Previously, nan FSA, nan nutrient information assemblage for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has advised that children nether 4 should not person slush crystal drinks containing glycerol, and that depletion should beryllium constricted to nary much than 1 slush a time for children aged betwixt 5 and 10 years. The FSA has revised its guidance earlier an expected seasonal spike successful slush crystal portion income astatine children’s indoor play areas, leisure accommodation and outdoor events complete nan summertime holidays.
This latest proposal besides applies to ready-to-drink slush crystal drinks pinch glycerol successful pouches and location kits containing glycerol slush concentrates.
There person been 9 confirmed cases of glycerol intoxication successful young children who were admitted to infirmary successful nan UK complete nan past 3 years.
In March, paediatricians warned that children nether eight should not portion slushies which incorporate glycerol, aft a reappraisal of nan aesculapian notes of 21 children who became acutely unwell soon aft drinking one.
Prof Robin May, nan main technological advisor astatine nan FSA, said: “As we caput into nan summertime holidays, we want parents to beryllium alert of nan imaginable risks associated pinch slush crystal drinks containing glycerol. While these drinks whitethorn look harmless and side-effects are mostly mild, they can, particularly erstwhile consumed successful ample quantities complete a short time, airs superior wellness risks to young children.
“That’s why we’re recommending that children nether 7 should not devour these drinks astatine all, and children aged 7 to 10 should person nary much than 1 350ml serving.
“We’re moving intimately pinch manufacture to guarantee due warnings are successful spot wherever these drinks are sold, but successful nan meantime we are asking parents and carers to return other attraction erstwhile buying drinks for young children, peculiarly during warmer months erstwhile depletion of ‘slushies’ typically increases.”