The Food Standard Agency (FSA) board has called on the industry to work with the regulator to help protect children from the effects of glycerol in slush ice drinks, based on an assessment showing a risk to children under the age of seven.
At its meeting on Wednesday (18 June), the board endorsed advice that slush ice drinks containing glycerol are not suitable for children under that age.
Professor Susan Jebb, FSA chair, said: “In the warm weather, children may be more likely to consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol, so it’s important that parents and carers are aware of the risks. As a precaution, the FSA is recommending that children under seven do not consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol.
“We expect industry to share data on the quantity of glycerol in their products to inform our future work. Meanwhile, there are immediate actions they can take that can help protect children and reduce the risk from these products. For example, retailers should limit cup sizes and should not offer free refill promotions to children under 10.”
Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid. Businesses are advised to only add glycerol at the minimum quantity technically necessary to achieve the slush effect. While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks. Consumed at high levels, glycerol can cause very low blood sugar levels and unconsciousness in young children.
In response, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has updated two of its online guides to reflect the changes, with advice on slush drinks featuring in the Preventing Underage Sales and Food Safety Hygiene guides.
It added: “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.”
The ACS will be meeting with the FSA shortly to discuss the detailed implications of this advice for retailers, and says it will share further guidance soon.
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