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Urgent warning over ‘toxic’ slushy drinks that could trigger dangerous syndrome after 21 kids hospitalised

AN urgent warning has been issued over slushy drinks in the UK after 21 children were hospitalised.

Children under the age of eight should avoid consuming slush ice drinks containing the sweetening agent glycerol to avoid “glycerol intoxication syndrome”, say researchers.

Two young boys sharing a slushy drink with straws.
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In the UK, slush drinks containing glycerol are not recommended for children under the age of four[/caption]

Currently in the UK, slush drinks – also known as slushies – containing the ingredient are not recommended for children under the age of four.

The advice comes under NHS guidance, which states due to the high levels of glycerol in slush drinks, young children are at risk of having too much glycerol, which can cause dizziness, low blood sugar (glucose), confusion and they can even pass out.

These symptoms occur in young children because their bodies can’t break glycerol down as efficiently as adults.

The guidance was issued by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), with the most recent updates occurring in 2023.

However, academics have called for the public health advice to be revisited after a study of hospitalised children with ages ranging from two to almost seven years old.

Glycerol is a naturally occurring alcohol and sugar substitute which helps slush drinks maintain their texture by preventing liquid from freezing solid.

As part of the study, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, researchers at University College Dublin looked at the medical notes of 21 children in the UK and Ireland who fell ill after consuming a slushy.

Most cases took place between 2018 and 2024, with children’s ages ranging between two and almost seven.

The youngsters were initially diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, after arriving at emergency departments.

Drinking slushies containing glycerol “may cause a clinical syndrome of glycerol intoxication in young children”, said the researchers.

Symptoms included decreased consciousness, hypoglycaemia, lactic acidosis, which occurs when the body produces too much lactic acid, and hypokalaemia, or low potassium.

They added: “Clinicians and parents should be alert to the phenomenon, and public health bodies should ensure clear messaging regarding the fact that younger children, especially those under eight years of age, should avoid slush ice drinks containing glycerol.”

As well as advising against children under four consuming slush ice drinks containing glycerol, the FSA recommends consumption is limited to no more than one slush per day for children aged between five and 10 years.

The time between drinking the slushy and becoming ill was known for 15 children, with 14 becoming unwell within an hour, according to the review.

All 21 children recovered quickly and were discharged with advice not to drink slushies, according to the study.

'We nearly lost our son's life'

FOUR-year-old Albie Pegg started hallucinating then fell unconscious within an hour of drinking a slushy.

The reception pupil had been bowling with a friend after school on October 13, 2023, before gulping down a small strawberry-flavoured iced slushy drink.

Within 30 minutes, his mum, Beth Green, said he appeared “tired and agitated” in the back of the car.

Beth grew increasingly concerned when Albie started “hallucinating”, “clawing at his face” and falling unconscious.

The tot was rushed to hospital, where medics discovered his blood sugar levels were dangerously low and his heartbeat “extremely slow”.

A doctor allegedly told them if they hadn’t brought Albie in, it would have been fatal.

His mum, Beth Green said: “We nearly lost our son’s life. We’ve never experienced anything like this before, he’s always been a fit and healthy child.”

Beth said she believes the recommended age to have the iced drink should be raised to 10.

Of the group, 20 children followed this advice and had no further episodes of low blood sugar.

However, one child had another slushy at the age of seven and developed symptoms within an hour.

Researchers said: “There is poor transparency around slush ice drink glycerol concentration; estimating a safe dose is therefore not easy.

“It is also likely that speed and dose of ingestion, along with other aspects such as whether the drink is consumed alongside a meal or during a fasting state, or consumed after high-intensity exercise, may be contributing factors.”

A child in a hospital bed holding hands with an adult.
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Between 2018 and 2024, 21 children ranging between two and almost seven became unwell after drinking slushies[/caption]

They added that “there are no nutritional or health benefits from these drinks” and “they are not recommended as part of a balanced diet”.

“Recommendations on their safe consumption therefore need to be weighted towards safety,” the academics said.

“To ensure safe population-level recommendations can be easily interpreted at the individual parental level, and given the variability across an age cohort of weight, we suggest that recommendations should be based on weight rather than age.

“Alternatively, the recommended age threshold may need to be higher (eight years), to ensure the dose per weight would not be exceeded given normal population variation in weight.”

Signs of glycerol intoxication syndrome

CHILDREN below the age of 10 may suffer from headaches and sickness caused by exposure to glycerol.

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. 

Typical early warning signs of hypoglycaemia are feeling hungry, trembling or shakiness, and sweating.

In more severe cases, you may also feel confused and have difficulty concentrating.

In very severe cases, a person experiencing hypoglycaemia can lose consciousness.

Source: Food Standards Agency/NHS

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Hugely popular face cream is urgently recalled over contamination with chemical linked to cancer

A HUGELY popular beauty item has been urgently recalled over fears they could contain cancer-causing chemicals.

L’Oréal has slapped a ‘do not use’ alert on its La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo facial moisturiser in stores across the US as it grapples with the shocking revelation.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo(+) 24H Hydrating Lotion acne treatment.
Not known, clear with picture desk
L’Oréal has slapped a ‘do not use’ alert on its La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo facial treatment[/caption]
L'Oréal sign on a brick building.
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It is believed the US-based products could contain benzene, a group one carcinogen[/caption]

The cosmetics giant fears the product, which sets buyers back £27, could contain benzene, a group one carcinogen.

Brits will be relieved to hear that the contamination does not affect UK-based products, which are sold in pharmacy chains including Boots and Superdrug.

The US formulation of Effaclar Duo contains the ingredient benzoyl peroxide (BPO), which kills bacteria to help treat acne.

But BPO is known to break down into benzene in certain conditions, including warm temperatures. 

In a statement, L’Oréal told Bloomberg: “In close coordination with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we have proactively decided to remove the limited remaining units of the current formula of Effaclar Duo from retailers. 

“This decision also enables a seamless transition to our new and improved Effaclar Duo formula, which has been in development since 2024 and will be available to consumers soon.”

Benzene “is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable,” according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The chemical evaporates into the air very quickly and may sink into low-lying areas.

Benzene, which occurs naturally in volcanoes and forest fires and is found in cigarette smoke, dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of the water.

It is used in the production of other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon, as well as lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.

The Sun Online has reached out to L’Oréal for comment.

It comes just days after a popular children’s gardening set was recalled over a “serious chemical risk”.

Shoppers have been warned over a seven-piece toy set for kids sold by Costco in the UK.

The Long Handle Hoe and Rake in Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and seven-piece Garden Sets have been urgently pulled from shelves.

They do not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.

Office for Product Safety and Standards officials confirmed yellow paint on the hoe and rake handles contains “excess concentrations of migratable lead”.

Health risks of exposure include kidney damage, problems in the circulatory system and developing brains.

The unborn babies of pregnant women and young children are the most sensitive to lead.

Customers have been warned to check for the Costco item number 1662178, batch 12/2023, and SKU SGH021-08-SY.

What happens if you are exposed to benzene?

Exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and unconsciousness.

Benzene causes long-term harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, benzene can cause cancer, including leukemia.

Those exposed to benzene poisoning are urged to go to the hospital to receive immediate medical care.

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Man Utd chief admits club risk FIVE-YEAR trophy drought as they commit £2BILLION to 100,000-seat ‘New Trafford’ stadium

MANCHESTER UNITED admit they “risk” a five-year trophy drought by committing £2BILLION to ‘New Trafford’.

United yesterday unveiled their vision for a state-of-the-art, 100,000-seater home next to the Theatre of Dreams.

Illustration of a proposed 100,000-seat Manchester United stadium and surrounding development.
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Man Utd have unveiled ambitious plans for a new £2bn stadium[/caption]
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United minority shareholder, at a soccer match.
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Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe revealed the club would have gone bust without his intervention[/caption]
Omar Berrada, Manchester United chief executive, at the Munich Memorial Plaque.
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United chief executive Omar Berrada admits the £2bn outlat is a “risk”[/caption]

But it came less than 24 hours after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed the club could have gone bust by Christmas without his savage cost-cutting measures.

The “brave” stadium plans were backed by legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

While chief executive Omar Berrada hopes current under-fire boss Ruben Amorim will still be in charge when the stadium is completed in 2030.

However, asked if the build could affect their competitiveness on the pitch, Berrada admitted: “That is a risk.

“Clearly it’s something we want to avoid.

“We don’t want to inhibit our ability to invest in the team, for us to continue being competitive while we are building a new stadium.

“There are various ways around that; one of the things we are looking at is to shorten the construction timelines so we can have a new stadium within five years, that’s our ambition.

“In the meantime, by getting our finances back in order and becoming profitable, we believe we can be very competitive.”

Cheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets

Prem rivals Arsenal and Tottenham have also moved homes in recent memory — and suffered on the field as a result.

But Berrada added: “The big benefit that this club has is that it has the biggest fanbase in the world and therefore the ability to be the No 1 in terms of revenues it generates.”

United hope to start construction this year, but the aim is to be in their new home by the start of the 2030-31 season.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) said the images looked “stunning and exciting” but the project raises more questions than answers.

Amorim’s men are currently 14th in the table and many regulars believe the squad needs a major rebuild.

The MUST statement said: “Whilst investment is much needed and welcome, fans remain anxious about what it means and what the consequences will be.

“Will it drive up ticket prices and force out local fans? Will it add to the debt burden which has held back the club for the last two decades?

“Will it lead to reduced investment in the playing side at a time when it is so badly needed?”

Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal as De Ligt shows exactly why Red Devils signed him but Zirkzee is as frustrating as ever

IT was a performance that would have pleased Ruben Amorim but a 1-1 draw with Arsenal does little to paper over the cracks at Manchester United.

On a day when the Old Trafford crowd protested the owners, the players stood up to show their remains life in a club that fans say is experiencing a “slow death”.

There was a lack of clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes as both sides goalscoring troubles continued.

A moment of magic was needed and Fernandes stepped up as he so often does.

Arsenal‘s wall was full of man mountains, but Fernandes found the power, dip and accuracy to beat David Raya with his free-kick – even if the wall was marched 11.2 yards back instead of the regulated ten.

Mikel Arteta’s side came out swinging in the second-half with their makeshift No9 up top, and it took a brilliant effort from Declan Rice to level the scores.

United were able to frustrate them and remain a threat on the counter but eventually had to settle for a point in a much-improved performance.

Here is how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the United performances.

The stadium plans were backed by Fergie, who said: “Manchester United should always strive for the best in everything it does.

“Old Trafford holds so many special memories for me but we must be brave and seize this opportunity to build a new home fit for the future, where history can be made.”

United believe they can continue to play in the 74,000-capacity Old Trafford, which has been their home since 1910, right up until their new stadium is ready.

The cost of the project left some fans scratching their heads — as it came just a few hours after Ratcliffe issued his chilling warning about the club’s finances.

Berrada confirmed the stadium, along with club areas like fan zones and a megastore, will not be paid for by the general public.

He added: “We won’t be asking for taxpayer money.

“But, at the same time, the stadium, the new build in isolation does not make sense if there’s not an investment in the wider generation project.”

United will also explore the possibility of raising some cash by selling the new stadium’s naming rights.

Berrada admitted the hope in the boardroom is that Amorim will still be in charge come 2030.

The Frenchman said: “We’d love it if he was still coach when we move.”

United’s hopes of playing Champions League football next term are hanging on them winning the Europa League.

They host Real Sociedad in a last-16 second-leg clash on Thursday night with the score 1-1.

Berrada said: “If we qualify to the Champions League, we will have more revenues and we’ll have more capacity to invest in the team.”

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