A MOTHER has issued a stark warning against a popular summer drink kids go crazy for.
Sherene, a mum-of-two, took to TikTok to warn fellow parents about her shocking discovery just in time for the summer holidays.
Slushies may seem like a harmless drink to treat kids to on holiday[/caption]
The mum, from the UK, was on holiday at the time, and spotted plenty of parents letting their children drink slushies by the pool.
But she said there were some serious hidden dangers lurking in the icy drink.
She said: “The amount of people I have seen whilst being on holiday, giving their one-year-old and two-year-old slush puppies is beyond me.”
While the mum picked out the name-brand of the frozen drinks, it wasn’t just Slush Puppies that could pose a danger, as any at-home or pre-made frozen slushie drink could be a risk.
“Now I know a lot of people are uneducated on it. So I’m going to share a few facts on why I will never give my child or children Slush Puppies, at least until they are 10 years old,” she continued.
Glycerol is a key ingredient in the drinks as it stops the liquid from freezing solid.
But too much glycerol can have dangerous effects on children under 10.
At high levels, it can cause Glycerol Intoxication which can cause shock, hypoglycaemia and loss of consciousness.
Now, most slushies are made with low levels, but vendors may not measure the amount of the liquid properly which could pose a danger, says Sherene.
The mum added: “Instead of measuring the correct amount of glycerol in each cup or in each machine, they will just keep topping it up.
“So they never know the exact amount and that can potentially unalive your child.
“I would rather my child scream the shop down instead of giving her a Slush Puppy.”
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has now updated its guidance to state that slush ice drinks containing glycerol are not suitable for children under seven.
Earlier this year, the brightly-coloured drinks — which are designed to appeal to children — were linked to the hospitalisation of 21 children aged two to seven.
Members of the food watchdog’s board called for the change after reviewing evidence on the risk of glycerol to young children’s health.
Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol – also called E422 or glycerine on some labels – as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid.
The sugar substitute is also found in some other foods, but at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks.
“I give my kids a lot of things to make my life easier. Slush puppy will not be one of them. It’s just so, so dangerous. It’s not worth it,” Sherene said.
The clip was shared on her TikTok account @shercyrusx and went viral with over 514k views.
Parents were quick to thank her for the warning in the comments.
One person wrote: “I gave my toddler a Slush Puppie I didn’t know that they are dangerous. I don’t understand why there isn’t any awareness on this or age restriction!!! Thank you for sharing.”
Swimming safety advice
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: “If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: “Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
“It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life”.
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: “Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
“Children may try to grab these from the pool’s edge and fall in.”
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: “Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
“And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.”
Another commented: “Why don’t they put an age restriction on them?”
“Well I don’t watch the news and this is the first I have heard about it, thank you for the awareness, we go on holiday next month and it will be a big nope for them to have one now,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “I didn’t know this at ALL. I take my kids to the cinema regularly and I always get them a slushie.”
“Thank you for educating us! Because I was so unaware until last week! Thank you mummaaa,” claimed a fifth
Someone else added: “I’ve been a parent for 12 years and I literally never knew this!! I mean a slush puppy is a very rare treat for my children but that’s mad!”
