New Study Warns: Sugar-Free Slushies May Pose Serious Health Risks to Young Children

New research reveals the dangers of sugar-free slushies

Enjoying an ice-cold slushie during the hot months in New York City is a favorite summer staple. For many of us native New Yorkers, it’s not just a fun treat we grew up with and eagerly awaited each summer, but a tradition we’ve also passed down to our kids.

However, a new study from the U.K. and Ireland is warning parents about the dangers of slushies, in particular, those labeled as sugar-free for young children. The study says that kids under the age of four should avoid slushies that contain a substance called glycerol, which is often used to replace sugar in sugar-free drinks.

Psst… Check Out Egg Prices Skyrocket, But Are They Safe Amid the Bird Flu Crisis?

The study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, looked into cases where children became seriously ill after drinking slushies that contained glycerol, an additive commonly used to maintain the slushy texture in sugar-free versions. In the typical sugar slushies, the sugar helps preserve the slushie texture but in sugar-free versions, glycerol is substituted.

Glycerol can cause harmful effects in young children, leading to symptoms like drowsiness, dangerously low blood sugar, and imbalances in the body’s metabolism.

Key Findings from the Study

The research reviewed 21 cases of children, mostly around 3 to 4 years old, who became ill within an hour of drinking a slushie. Almost all of the children had serious reactions. Symptoms included:

Loss of consciousness (94% of the children)
Very low blood sugar (95%)
A buildup of acid in the body (94%)
Other issues like low potassium, high-fat levels in the blood, and high glycerol levels in the urine

Dr. Ellen Crushell, the study’s lead author and a pediatrician, explained that these reactions are part of a condition called glycerol intoxication syndrome, which can happen when children consume too much glycerol.

What Parents Should Know

It’s worth noting that not all slushies have glycerol; it’s usually found in the sugar-free ones. The drinks that do have glycerol may not cause major problems if kids have them once in a while and in small amounts. Still, parents should be careful and limit how much their kids drink, especially those under four.

Slushies are made with glycerol instead of sugar to create sugar-free products, and many parents want their children to avoid excess sugar.

Glycerol is found in many foods. It is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar replacement in protein bars, sugar-free gum, and other foods that contain sugar substitutes. Typically, when adults consume too much, it can cause stomach problems like bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Young children are more likely to experience severe effects from glycerol because their smaller bodies and developing metabolisms don’t handle it as well as adults. Many of the children in the study were so sick they were sent for tests to check for a metabolic genetic disorder. Some of the children arrived unconscious at the hospital, and one had a seizure.

Symptoms of Glycerol Intoxication Syndrome

If your child drinks a slushie and starts feeling sick, look for symptoms. If they show signs of drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, or general unwellness, stop them from drinking more, give them something sugary to eat to raise their blood sugar, and seek medical help immediately.

Dr. Crushell pointed out that slushies, whether they’re full of sugar or sugar-free, don’t offer any real health benefits for kids. It’s best to limit how often they have these drinks to keep them both healthy and safe.

Psst… Check Out NewYork-Presbyterian Infectious Disease Expert Talks Measles Outbreak and Prevention in Exclusive Briefing