The 6 ‘toxic’ drinks that could be making your kids sick and why you need to think twice about that Slushie treat
WITH their fun, fruity flavours and tongue-staining colours, slushy drinks are a magnet for young kids.
But parents might want to think twice before shelling out for an icy treat.
Food chiefs warn that kids under four should not be given the frosty drinks, as they can be toxic.
It comes after two tots fell seriously ill after supping them.
Last month Victoria Anderson, 29, was left terrified when her son fell unconscious after drinking his first raspberry slushy.
Angus, three, was taken to hospital where staff told Victoria, from Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, the drink had caused glycerol toxicity.
Glycerol, often labelled as E422, is a key ingredient in the crushed ice drinks as it helps keep them at the right consistency and prevents them from freezing.
And last year Albie Pegg, four, from Nuneaton, Warwicks was left struggling to breathe after gulping down a small strawberry slushy.
Doctors were said to have warned his terrified mum, Beth Green, 25, he might not make it due to “glycerol intolerance”.
Albie has now fully recovered.
While these are extreme cases, toddlers can still suffer headaches, sickness, and may faint or go into shock due to high levels of glycerol.
Adam Hardgrave, head of additives at the Food Standards Agency, said: “It is important parents are aware of the risks . . . it is likely that there is under-reporting of glycerol intoxication, as parents may attribute nausea and headaches to other factors.”
But are there other nasties hiding in your little ones’ favourite drinks?
Nutritionist Amanda Ursell tells Nikki Watkins which treats parents should avoid, with each given a “toxicity” risk rating out of five.
Milkshakes
The nasty – sugar overload
AMANDA SAYS: Kids tend to go mad for milkshakes, but if buying them for youngsters, bear in mind they often have a sugary secret.
In 2018, the charity Action On Sugar found that milkshakes sold by many High Street restaurants and fast-food chains contain “shocking” levels of sugar.
The Five Guys’ milkshake base – the vanilla-flavoured content to which flavours are added – is advertised on its menu as having a staggering 69g of sugar – equivalent to approximately 16 teaspoons of it.
And a large McDonald’s vanilla milkshake contains a whopping 77g.
While it might be tempting to think shakes provide lots of bone-building calcium for kids thanks to the milk, the huge amount of sugar shovelled in to make them taste more appealing can be dangerous.
Too much sugar can lead to weight gain, and with that you have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
Milk is totally fine plain – or blend it with a banana to sweeten it naturally.
Fizzy fruit
The nasty – sodium benzoate
AMANDA SAYS: Kids crave fizzy fruit drinks, but caution is needed.
Sodium benzoate can be found in the ingredients list of some fizzy pop products.
A preservative that has been used for decades, it occurs naturally in berries but is used in large quantities to prevent mould in soft drinks.
Research by a team from Sheffield University suggests it may have the ability to switch off vital parts of our DNA, causing cell damage.
This problem can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Ribena
The nasty – aspartame
AMANDA SAYS: Ribena is a popular refresher for kids – some take it to school in drinks bottles.
But it should be consumed with caution as it, along with many other sugar-free drinks, contains aspartame.
Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener that has caused controversy for decades.
A mid-Nineties study linked high doses of it with brain tumours, cancer, lymphomas and leukaemias.
However earlier this year, the World Health Organisation said there was “limited evidence” to support its potentially cancer-causing effects.
Some researchers are still arch enemies of aspartame and according to the NHS, it isn’t suitable for people with phenylketonuria, a genetic condition which prevents the breakdown of amino acids in the body.
If left untreated, it can lead to brain damage – but this is rare.
Prime Energy
The nasty – excessive caffeine
AMANDA SAYS: Kids are desperate to get their hands on cans of Prime Energy, the colourfully packaged beverage peddled by YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul.
But parents should be aware that the popular liquid contains a huge 140mg of caffeine per 330ml serving.
That’s equivalent to around four 330ml cans of Coca Cola or almost two 250ml cans of Red Bull.
The Cleveland Clinic hospital group in the US gives the stark message that no amount of caffeine is proven “safe” for children aged under 12.
Caffeine taken by children has been associated with symptoms ranging from headaches to insomnia, fatigue, irritation and stomach aches.
Cola
The nasty – phosphoric acid
AMANDA SAYS: During school holidays, your children are more likely than ever to pester you for a can of Coke – but think twice.
Many soft drinks, especially colas, contain phosphoric acid.
This acts as a preservative and does this by creating acid levels of around 2.5pH, which is just above that of pure lime juice.
This is bad news for tooth enamel, which is prone to being dissolved in even slightly acidic conditions.
If tooth enamel has repeated exposure to soft drinks containing acids, they are left vulnerable to cavity-causing bacteria.
At a time when children should be developing strong teeth, it is vital to avoid acidic and sugary beverages that could end up ruining their smile.
Slushies
The nasty – glycerol
AMANDA SAYS: The pressure of nagging can’t be overestimated.
But if your kids are craving an iced slushy, stand firm, as those under four should not be having these frozen drinks.
The Food Standards Agency reckons under-tens should be refused free slushy refills to stop them drinking too much.
Glycerol is used in slushy drinks as a substitute for sugar, to give the ‘slush’ effect.
The drinks industry is being advised to use the minimum amount of glycerol necessary, but in some cases a large 350ml drink can contain up to 17,500mg of glycerol, which exceeds upper limits for four-year-olds.
Glycerol intoxication is very serious – it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and in extreme caaes a loss of consciousness.