In response to a new risk assessment published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) has issued updated advice for parents, guardians and caregivers that children aged ten and under should not consume glycerol-containing slush ice drinks due to potential side effects including headaches, nausea and vomiting. Glycerol gives ice drinks a slushy effect and whilst it is generally not harmful, there are concerns about its effects on children aged ten years and under when used at high levels in slush ice drinks. Glycerol is an EU approved additive and is being used in the context of food reformulation to lower the sugar content of drinks.

The FSAI has also updated its voluntary guidelines for the industry. These guidelines require the industry to only use a safe quantity of glycerol when making slush ice drink concentrates. Manufacturers of prepackaged slush ice drinks and make-at-home syrup concentrates containing glycerol should carry a warning on the pack in keeping with the FSAI advice. Retailers selling unpackaged slush ice drinks containing glycerol should display permanent point-of-sale warnings stating, “this product contains glycerol and is not recommended for children aged ten and under”.

The FSAI previously raised this issue with the European Commission and other Member States which led to the current EFSA risk assessment.