FSA warns parents of popular summer drink 'not suitable' for young children
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning parents not to let children under the age of 7 drink iced slushie drinks this summer if they contain glycerol.
An FSA board meeting this week endorsed the advice and called for clear communication to parents and carers to help manage glycerol intake in young children.
The FSA said: 'Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid.
'Consumed at high levels, glycerol can cause very low blood sugar levels and unconsciousness in young children.
The FSA Board meeting begins today at 9am in Birmingham. Here's the agenda and meeting papers for today's meeting: https://t.co/2qmw9Q5sOL Here's where you can watch it live: https://t.co/gK6XZow9cg#FSABoard 1/2 pic.twitter.com/jjmdMnwQrF
— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 18, 2025
'Businesses are advised to only add glycerol at the minimum quantity technically necessary to achieve the slush effect.
'While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks.'
Professor Susan Jebb, FSA chair, added: '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.'
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If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product).
The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.
In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued.
This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.
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