A recent study found that several children were hospitalized after drinking slush ice drinks containing glycerol. Now, one mom is detailing her daughter’s hospitalization just minutes after consuming the popular drink to send a warning to other parents.
In 2020, Kim Moore — from Lancashire, England — took her daughters Marnie, 4, and Orla, 6, to a children’s party, where she bought them refillable slushies. After 10 minutes, her youngest daughter fell unconscious.
The 35-year-old told Kennedy News and Media via the Daily Mail that Marnie was “pale and unresponsive.”
“We ended up buying two one-litre refillable cups and they were going off playing, eating, getting drinks and coming back but Marnie didn’t drink the full cup, probably only half,” she recalled. “Then about 10 minutes later, she started getting really aggravated then she started falling asleep so I just thought she was over-tired.”
“It was only five minutes later when I tried to wake her up that I realised she wasn’t waking up and was actually unconscious,” she told the outlet.
KIM MOORE, 35, WITH HER TWO DAUGHTERS MARNIE MOORE AND ORLA MOORE.
Kennedy News and Media
Moore tried to shake the toddler awake but with no luck, rushed her to the hospital.
“I think it was mum’s instinct that I knew something wasn’t right,” she told the outlet. “She was floppy and completely unconscious.”
After arriving at the hospital, doctors discovered that Marnie’s blood sugar levels were dangerously low, and transferred her to another hospital, where she remained for three days.
“I had no clue what had caused it. She was unconscious for around 25 minutes while they brought her blood sugars up,” Moore said. “In hospital, she screamed out in agony saying her head hurt and threw up everywhere.”
Moore was later told that her 4-year-old was suffering from glycerol toxicity as a result of consuming the slush ice drink, which contained the sweetener glycerol. Many slushies contain glycerol because it gives the drink its “slushy” texture.
Symptoms of glycerol toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, confusion, decreased consciousness, low blood sugar levels and low levels of potassium in the blood.
Marnie Moore in the hospital at age 4.
Kennedy News and Media
“Looking back, she had every single symptom of glycerol toxicity,” Moore admitted. “I was in absolute fear. If I hadn’t taken her to hospital, it may have had a different outcome.”
Moore said her daughter was able to recover after three days in the hospital. She is now sending a warning to other parents, urging them to not allow their young children to consume the slush ice drinks.
“So many places promote free slushies when you play there but you’re promoting poison,” she told the outlet. “I don’t think these slushies should be allowed at all. I personally wouldn’t allow my child to drink one at all. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
“I don’t think they should be sold to kids 12 and under in all honesty,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish what we went through on our worst enemy. It was awful.”
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On March 11, a study published in the Archives of Disease in Children reported that at least 21 children aged 2-6 were hospitalized over the last 15 years in the U.K. and Ireland after drinking slush ice drinks containing glycerol. According to the study, 93% of the children became unwell “within 60 minutes” of drinking the slush ice drinks.
Following the results, the ADC has urged children under age 8 to avoid drinking ice drinks containing glycerol.
“Consumption of slush ice drinks containing glycerol may cause a clinical syndrome of glycerol intoxication in young children,” they wrote. “This mimics inherited disorders of gluconeogenesis and glycerol metabolism. Clinicians and parents should be alert to the phenomenon, and public health bodies should ensure clear messaging regarding [this].”
Additionally, the Food Standards Agencyrecommends that children aged 4 years and under should “not consume” slush ice drinks containing glycerol “due to their potential to cause side-effects such as headaches and sickness, particularly when consumed in excess.”
Glycerol is “generally thought to be safe in humans,” and it is an authorized group I food additive in the EU, under Annex II and Annex III of Regulation (EC) number 1333/2008, per the ADC. However, the organization added that “there is poor transparency around glycerol concentration,” possibly leading to children being hospitalized.
