No slushies for kids

Researchers: Icy Drink Sees Many Children Land Up In Hospital

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Children under eight should not drink slushy ice drinks containing glycerol, researchers have warned after a string of hospitalisations in the UK and Ireland.

The brightly coloured drinks marketed towards children often use glycerol as a sweetener and anti-freezing agent.

But high levels can be harmful, especially to children. Glycerol intoxication can cause shock, low blood sugar and loss of consciousness.

In a peer-reviewed medical review published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood journal on Tuesday, researchers looked into a "recent apparent surge in cases" in the UK and Ireland, and suggested children under eight should avoid the drinks entirely.