'I'm a doctor and here's the one popular drink I'd never let my children have'
A doctor has warned about giving young children a popular drink. Speaking to The Guardian, Dr Duane Mellor, a registered dietician and British Dietetic Association spokesperson, raised the alarm about slushies.
The drink is a common sight at bowling alleys, cinema's and arcade's but the drink may have some worrying effects In response to a question about what he would never let his children eat, the doctor said: "Slush drinks. Since the introduction of the soft drinks industry levy, many of these have been made sugar-free. However, the amount of glycerol now used in them has been linked to the collapse and hospital admission of at least five children aged under four."
Dr Mellor's advice is also supported by the Food Standards Agency, which recommends under-4s avoid glycerol in slushi-ice drinks. The agency issued the guidance in 2023 suggesting the drinks should not be sold to young children.
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It also advises manufacturers to tell retailers they should not offer refill promotions to children under-10 to prevent exposure to the ingredient after the agency found the drinks could cause headaches and sickness. FSA Head of Additives, Adam Hardgrave, said: "While the symptoms of glycerol intoxication are usually mild, it is important that parents are aware of the risks – particularly at high levels of consumption.
"It is likely that there is under-reporting of glycerol intoxication, as parents may attribute nausea and headaches to other factors. We are grateful to those manufacturers who have already taken steps to reduce levels of glycerol, and to those who have already told us they will be adopting our new guidelines."
