Minister Welcomes Report on Glycerol in Slush Drinks
Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor welcomes research on glycerol in slush drinks, with advice to avoid them for children under 8.
The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, has welcomed the publication of a new report on the potential risks associated with glycerol in slush drinks for young children.
The study, titled ‘Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks’, was conducted by Irish and UK-based clinicians and published in the British Medical Journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. It highlights concerns about the effects of glycerol (E 422) on children under ten, particularly those below the age of eight.
Among the report’s recommendations is the avoidance of slush drinks for children under eight years of age.
Minister Murnane O’Connor commented:
"As a Minister whose portfolio covers food safety and health promotion, I welcome publication of this research paper, and I have asked my Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to review the findings of the paper. Public health for children is a priority for my Department and I will continue to endorse the work of agencies including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and Safefood in this area."
Understanding Glycerol in Slush Drinks
Slush ice drinks contain glycerol (E 422), a sugar substitute that helps maintain their semi-frozen texture. While glycerol is an EU-approved additive under Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, concerns have been raised about its impact on young children when consumed in large quantities.
The Department of Health’s Healthy Eating Guidelines classify slush drinks at the top end of the food pyramid, advising they should only be consumed occasionally as a treat.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued recommendations regarding slush drinks, available here. The FSAI has also raised the issue at European Commission level, as any changes to food additive regulations would require action at an EU level.
For further details, the full study is available at the British Medical Journal, and the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) last commissioned report can be found here.
