Minister Murnane O’Connor welcomes the publication of new research on Slush Drinks with Glycerol

The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, today welcomed the publication of a report on Slush Drinks with Glycerol.

The research is titled ‘Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks’ and was authored by a group of Irish and UK based clinicians and published in the British Medical Journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Among the report’s recommendations are the avoidance of slush drinks for children below the age of eight years of age.

Minister Murnane O’Connor said:

The report was titled ‘Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks’ British Medical Journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. (Doi 10.1136/archdischild-2024-328109).

Slush ice drinks are beverages that can contain glycerol (E 422) as a substitute or partial substitute for sugar. Glycerol helps maintain the slushy texture by preventing the liquid from freezing solid. Glycerol is an EU approved additive and is used to lower the sugar content of drinks. Glycerol gives ice drinks a slushy effect and whilst it is generally not harmful, there are concerns about its effects on young children under ten years of age when consumed in large quantities. Slush ice drinks are sold via slush ice machines in a variety of outlets and are also sold pre-packaged in supermarkets/retail stores.

The Department of Health’s Healthy Eating Guidelines has slush ice drinks at the top end of the healthy eating food pyramid, meaning that they are not part of a healthy balanced diet and should only be consumed in moderation as a treat.

In the European Union (EU), glycerol (E 422) is authorised as a food additive in accordance with Annex II of Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 on food additives. It is permitted for use at “quantum satis” in slush drinks. Quantum satis means that no maximum numerical level is specified, and substances must be used in accordance with good manufacturing practice, at a level not higher than necessary to achieve the intended technological purpose and provided the consumer is not misled. The last commissioned report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is available.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) currently has recommendations in regard to slush drinks.

The FSAI has raised this issue with the European Commission and other Member States. It should be noted that any change to the current food additive legislation, that may be necessary, will have to carried out at European level.