Slush drinks should be banned for under eights, BMJ suggests

New research study finds an ingredient in slushies can cause illness in the young

Original research released this week by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has highlighted the potential danger of a preservative called glycerol which is added to most slushie drinks to keep their consistency.

Slush ice drinks are popular, brightly coloured soft drinks, designed to appeal to children and young people and the chances are, if you sell them in your store, then you will be selling the additive too – which is totally legal.

In fact, current Food Standard Agency advice suggests children under just five should not ingest glycerol – but now the BMJ is advising that age be raised to eight.

Slushie ingredients vary, but the majority available in the UK and Ireland are marketed as ‘no added sugar’ or ‘sugar free’. These varieties contain glycerol (E422 - also referred to as glycerin) in order to maintain the slush effect, along with additional sweeteners.

Now, after a retrospective case review of 21 children who presented to centres across the UK and Ireland from 2009 through 2024, it has been found that almost all of the children (93%) became unwell within 60 min of slush ice drink consumption, and none had any relevant past history.

The report concluded: “This case series should inform public health bodies and food safety authorities when making recommendations on glycerol ingestion in young children, with an emphasis on safety.”

Convenience Store reported last year on the red flags surrounding glycerol, and even offered advice for retailers and other relevant parties in the industry on how to best sell the drinks in future. 

To read the full BMJ report, click here.