The six 'poisonous' drinks that will make your kids sick and why you should avoid Slushies
WITH their fun, fruity flavors and mouth-watering colors, slushy drinks are a magnet for young children.
But parents might want to think twice before reaching for an icy treat.
Food chefs are warning that children under the age of four should not be given ice-cold drinks as they can be poisonous.
It comes after two toddlers became seriously ill after feeding them.
Last month, Victoria Anderson, 29, was terrified when her son fell unconscious after drinking his first raspberry slushy.
Angus, three, was taken to hospital where staff told Victoria, from Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, that the drink had caused glycerol poisoning.
Glycerol, often referred to as E422, is an important ingredient in the crushed ice drinks because it helps them maintain the correct consistency and prevents freezing.
And last year Albie Pegg, four, from Nuneaton, Warwicks struggled to breathe after swallowing a small strawberry slush.
Doctors are said to have warned his terrified mother, Beth Green, 25, that he might not make it due to “glycerol intolerance”.
Albie has now fully recovered.
Although these are extreme cases, toddlers can still experience headaches and nausea, and may faint or go into shock due to high glycerol levels.
Adam Hardgrave, head of additives at the Food Standards Agency, said: 'It is important that parents are aware of the risks. . . it is likely that glycerol intoxication is underreported because parents may attribute nausea and headaches to other factors.”
But are there other nasty things hiding in your little ones' favorite drinks?
Nutritionist Amanda Ursell tells Nikki Watkins which treatments parents should avoid, with each given a risk score of five for “toxicity”.
Milkshakes
The bad thing: an excess of sugar
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AMANDA SAYS: Kids often love milkshakes, but if you're buying them for youngsters, keep in mind that they often have a sugary secret.
In 2018, the charity Action On Sugar found that milkshakes sold by many restaurants and fast food chains on the high street contained 'shocking' levels of sugar.
The menu advertises that the Five Guys milkshake base – the vanilla-flavored content with flavors added – contains a whopping 69 grams of sugar – equivalent to about 16 teaspoons of it.
And a large McDonald's vanilla milkshake contains a whopping 77 grams.
While it may be tempting to think that shakes provide plenty of bone-building calcium for kids thanks to the milk, the sheer amount of sugar put into them to make them taste more appealing can be dangerous.
Too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Milk is totally fine plain – or mix it with a banana to sweeten it naturally.
RISK FACTOR: 4
Sparkling fruit
The nasty thing – sodium benzoate
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AMANDA SAYS: Children crave carbonated fruit drinks, but caution is advised.
Sodium benzoate can be found in the ingredients list of some carbonated pop products.
A preservative that has been used for decades and occurs naturally in berries, but is used in large amounts to prevent mold in soft drinks.
Research by a team from the University of Sheffield suggests it could potentially disable vital parts of our DNA and cause cell damage.
This problem can eventually lead to liver cirrhosis and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.
RISK FACTOR: 3
Ribena
The nasty thing – aspartame
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AMANDA SAYS: Ribena is a popular refresher course for children – some take it to school in water bottles.
But it should be consumed with caution because, along with many other sugar-free drinks, it contains aspartame.
Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener that has caused controversy for decades.
A study from the mid-1990s linked high doses of it to brain tumors, cancer, lymphomas and leukemias.
However, earlier this year the World Health Organization said there was “limited evidence” to support its potentially carcinogenic effects.
Some researchers are still arch enemies of aspartame and according to the NHS it is not suitable for people with phenylketonuria, a genetic condition that prevents the breakdown of amino acids in the body.
If left untreated it can lead to brain damage, but this is rare.
RISK FACTOR: 2
First energy
The bad thing – excessive caffeine
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AMANDA SAYS: Kids are desperate for cans of Prime Energy, the colorfully packaged drink sold by YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul.
But parents should be aware that the popular liquid contains a whopping 140mg of caffeine per 330ml serving.
That's equivalent to about four 330ml cans of Coca Cola or almost two 250ml cans of Red Bull.
The Cleveland Clinic hospital group in the US is sending out the clear message that no amount of caffeine has been proven 'safe' for children under 12.
Caffeine ingested by children has been linked to symptoms ranging from headaches to insomnia, fatigue, irritability and abdominal pain.
RISK FACTOR: 4
Coke
The nasty thing – phosphoric acid
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AMANDA SAYS: During the school holidays, your kids are more likely than ever to pester you for a can of coke, but think twice.
Many soft drinks, especially colas, contain phosphoric acid.
This acts as a preservative and does so by creating an acid level of approximately 2.5 pH, which is just above that of pure lime juice.
This is bad news for tooth enamel, which can dissolve even in slightly acidic conditions.
When tooth enamel is repeatedly exposed to soft drinks containing acids, it remains vulnerable to bacteria that cause cavities.
At a time when children need to develop strong teeth, it is crucial to avoid acidic and sugary drinks, which can ultimately ruin their smiles.
RISK FACTOR: 3
Slushies
The nasty thing – glycerol
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AMANDA SAYS: The pressure of nagging cannot be overestimated.
But if your kids are craving an ice-cold slushy, hold your ground, because children under four shouldn't have these frozen drinks.
The Food Standards Agency believes children under ten should be denied free slushy refills to prevent them from drinking too much.
Glycerol is used in slushy drinks to replace sugar, to give the 'slush' effect.
The drinks industry is advised to use the minimum amount of glycerol necessary, but in some cases a large 350ml drink can contain as much as 17,500mg of glycerol, which exceeds the upper limit for four-year-olds.
Glycerol intoxication is very serious – it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar levels and in extreme cases, loss of consciousness.
RISK FACTOR: 5