Slushies warning sign

[Greak]

It the health centre where I train there's a small cafe. Amongst the other junk food it sells (always seems odd to me) are "Slushies". I don't know if that's a generic name for a crushed ice drink or a brand?

Anyway, there's a big sign up saying they contain "something" a chemical, I assume sweetener, which should not be given to under 7s and under 10s should have no more than 250ml per day.

If these aren't suitable for children, who's buying them and why?

I like a slushie. Especially the raspberry ones. I’m an adult and I buy them on occasion.

It's only recently that an minimum age guidance has been given after children had adverse effects due to the glycerol

https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/fsa-updates-advice-on-risk-to-children-of-glycerol-in-slush-ice-drinks

I like a blue slushie on a hot day. I probably have them a few times a year.

Mostly teenagers. Though I do love a slushy in the summer.

It’s glycerol. They have added more that’s dangerous to reduce sugar I believe and they are dangerous. I won’t let mine have them now; however a company near me just started advertising glycerol free so I’m guessing that will be the new way forward.

I like a Slush Puppy every now and then. Who can say no to sickly sweet ooze which turns your tongue blue? Shot of vodka added, optional extra.

I think the excessive consumption of glycerol that’s a risk used to be less of a problem, and thus never communicated, back in the olden days when they were a) relatively expensive treats which most people had fewer of generally and b) served in smaller cups than the super size two pint options often available now - children just wouldn’t consume enough quantity or regularly enough be affected.

There was the cases of 21 two- to seven-year-olds in the UK and Ireland who needed A&E treatment after becoming acutely ill within an hour of having the drinks, mostly between 2018 and 2024.