‘Slushy’ ice drinks should not be given to children under seven, new guidelines suggest

New guidance says children under the age of seven should not consume ‘slushy’ drinks after several near-death experiences for kids.

Food Standards Agency (FSA) chiefs have issued updated guidelines following a series of high-profile health scares.

As well as a suggested age restriction, the FSA wants to ban free refill promotions for children under the age of 10.

The brightly-coloured drinks - with their rainbow range of flavours - are hugely appealing but most contain glycerol instead of sugar to stop them setting completely solid.

Doctors are concerned if a young child drinks a slush too quickly, they could end up with glycerol intoxication, which may cause shock, low blood sugar or loss of consciousness.

One such case in Kent saw a two-year-old from Dartford rushed to hospital after becoming unresponsive and limp following a play session at a trampoline park.

Marcelle Richards said her tot was “out cold” and sweating and only started coming round at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford 90 minutes later.

She claimed the paramedics said if she had not brought her in she would have died when the incident happened in February last year.

Similar scares led Thanet ice cream van man Gary Rich to decide to ditch the drinks altogether three years ago, a choice he feels has been vindicated by recent developments.

The Tonibell boss explained: “We decided to make that decision to stop selling slush, on the basis of the effects it was having on children.

“I’m glad we decided to take and make that decision.”

However, there has been a downside for Tonibell over the last three years, with Mr Rich revealing the firm has often lost bookings, particularly for school or PTA events in summer, when he explained to potential customers there are no slush drinks on his vans.

“They want an ice cream van but they also want slush on that ice cream van” he said.

“When we obviously try and educate them and tell them why we don’t sell slush it’s ‘thank you but we’ll come back to you’ and they go for another person or another supplier.”

FSA chairperson, Professor Susan Jebb, said: “In the warm weather, children may be more likely to consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol, so it’s important that parents and carers are aware of the risks.

“As a precaution, the FSA is recommending that children under seven do not consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol. With our counterparts in Scotland, we will be talking to parent groups and charities to provide updated guidance that is useful and applicable across the UK.

“We expect industry to share data on the quantity of glycerol in their products to inform our future work.

“Meanwhile, there are immediate actions they can take that can help protect children and reduce the risk from these products.

“For example, retailers should limit cup sizes and should not offer free refill promotions to children under 10.”