A four-year-old girl from Lancashire, Marnie Moore, was left unconscious and dangerously ill after suffering a severe reaction to a popular slushy drink. Doctors diagnosed her with **glycerol toxicity**, a condition that causes critically low blood sugar, prompting urgent warnings about the risks these beverages pose to young children.
### **A Hidden Danger in Sweet Treats**
Last week, researchers issued a stark safety alert after reviewing **21 cases** of children who fell seriously ill shortly after consuming slushies. Published in *Archives of Disease in Childhood*, their findings urged health officials to **expand current guidelines**, which only advise against slushies for children under four. Experts now recommend the drinks be avoided by **all children under eight**.
The danger lies in **glycerol**, a sweetener used to prevent slushies from freezing. While older children and adults can metabolize it quickly, younger kids process it much slower, leading to a **dangerous buildup** that can cause:
- **Severe dehydration** (headaches, nausea)
- **Hypoglycemia** (dangerously low blood sugar, leading to tremors, seizures, or even coma)
### **"She Was Completely Unconscious"**
Marnie’s mother, Kim Moore, 35, described the terrifying moment her daughter collapsed after drinking roughly **500ml of a slushy** at a party.
*"She started getting agitated, then suddenly fell asleep. When I tried to wake her, she was pale, limp, and wouldn’t respond,"* Kim recalled. Rushed to the hospital, Marnie remained **unconscious for 25 minutes** before doctors stabilized her blood sugar.
*"She woke up screaming in pain, vomiting—it was horrific,"* Kim said. *"If I hadn’t acted fast, it could’ve been fatal."*
Now, Kim is **calling for a ban on slushies for under-12s**, calling them *"poison"* for young children.
### **Other Children at Risk**
Marnie isn’t alone. Last October, **four-year-old Albie Green** from Warwickshire became unresponsive after a strawberry slushy at a bowling alley. His mother, Beth, described him **hallucinating and clawing at his face** before medics fought to stabilize his plummeting blood sugar.
Similarly, **three-year-old Angus Anderson** from Scotland collapsed and nearly died after his first slushy. Paramedics found him **limp and "stone cold"** before emergency treatment saved his life.
### **Is the Sugar Tax to Blame?**
Experts suggest glycerol’s rise in slushies may be an **unintended consequence of the sugar tax**. Traditional recipes used sugar (12g per 100ml), but glycerol allows brands to cut sugar to **just 5g per 100ml** while maintaining texture.
Some companies, like **Slush Puppie**, have already removed glycerol, but many products remain on shelves.
### **A Mother’s Plea**
*"I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,"* Kim said. *"These drinks shouldn’t be sold to kids. It’s not worth the risk."*
With growing evidence of glycerol’s dangers, parents are urged to **avoid slushies for young children**—because for some, even one sip can be life-threatening.
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**Key Takeaways:**
- Slushies with glycerol can cause **life-threatening hypoglycemia** in kids.
- Experts say **under-8s should never consume them**—current warnings aren’t strict enough.
- Parents report **near-fatal collapses** in children after small amounts.
- Check labels: Some brands have **removed glycerol**, but many still use it.
