The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its advice on slush drinks containing glycerol, stating that children under the age of seven should not consume the products.

The advice follows an FSA board meeting this week, where the agency asked for the change to be clearly communicated to parents and carers to develop a ‘greatly enhanced voluntary approach’ for industry to help manage glycerol intake in young children. Previously, it was recommended that children under four should not consume slush drinks containing glycerol.

The FSA have stated that retailers should limit the cup sizes of slush products containing glycerol, and not offer free refills to children under 10. At very high levels of exposure – typically when several of these products are drunk by a child in a short space of time – glycerol intoxication could cause shock, hypoglycaemia and loss of consciousness.

ACS has updated two Assured Advice guides to reflect the changes, with advice on slush drinks featuring in the Preventing Underage Sales guide and the Food Safety and Hygiene guide.

Retailers who sell slush drinks containing glycerol should display a written warning at the point of sale that outlines that the products are not suitable for under sevens. Contact your slush supplier, as they may be able to provide this signage for you.

ACS will be meeting with the FSA shortly to discuss the detailed implications of this advice for retailers, and will share further guidance in due course.