Why are public health experts calling for new warnings on sugar-free slushies?

Bright, multi-coloured, fruit-flavoured slushie ice drinks sold in cinemas, parks and soft-play settings are made to appeal to children. However, in recent years there have been numerous reports of children taking ill after consuming sugar-free versions of them, which contain glycerol.

Researchers are now calling for public health advice to be revised on glycerol-containing slush ice drinks to help avoid the possibility of children becoming intoxicated by them. They recommend that either guidelines need to be based on weight, rather than age, or children under eight years old should be banned from consuming these products altogether.

But why is glycerol used in these drinks and why is it causing children to become unwell?