Renfrewshire businesses alerted to concerns over potential side-effects of slush ice drinks

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Businesses in Renfrewshire have been alerted to concerns surrounding the potential side-effects of slush ice drinks in young children.It comes after Food Standards Scotland (FSS) advised the products shouldn’t be sold to children aged four and under and retailers shouldn’t offer free refill promotions to under-10s.

Updated guidance was issued last year after a risk assessment identified that young children could suffer from headaches and sickness caused by exposure to glycerol – an ingredient often used to create the ‘slush’ effect.On the back of that, the council’s environmental health business regulation team has visited soft plays, cinemas and premises located near schools and nurseries to relay the relevant information and advice.

Councillor Gillian Graham, Labour group education spokesperson, described the steps taken by the local authority as “timely and sensible”.She said: “There have been a number of stories in the national media of children becoming ill as a result of ‘slush’ iced drinks.

We now know that slush drinks can contain glycerol to maintain their ‘slushiness’ and whilst glycerol is not toxic in small quantities, there are concerns about its effect on young children if they drink large quantities over a short period of time.“Food Standards Scotland’s advice is that slush ice drinks should not be sold to children under four years old and only in single servings to Under-10s.