A mother shared the alarming experience of her young child falling ill after consuming a slushy purchased at a local newsagent. Three-year-old Holly Allan collapsed shortly after drinking a strawberry and blue raspberry mixed slushy bought by her mother, Laura Allan, during an outing in Irvine, Ayrshire. The incident resulted in Holly spending five hours in the hospital’s A&E department last Sunday.
The slushy drink that Holly consumed contained glycerol, an ingredient that can induce hypoglycemic shock in children when consumed in high amounts. Manufacturers have been advised by the Food Standards Agency to include warnings on products containing glycerol since August 2025.
Laura, who was unaware of the potential risks associated with glycerol, has now issued a cautionary statement to other parents. She described the terrifying experience of Holly falling ill, vomiting, and losing consciousness after consuming the slushy. Laura emphasized the need for awareness of the risks posed by glycerol to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The slushy was purchased from JH News shop in the Rivergate Shopping Centre, where staff claim to have prominently displayed warning notices about the dangers of glycerol to young children. Glycerol is a colorless liquid used as a sweetening agent in slush syrups to create the desired thick consistency.
While glycerol is present in various foods, its concentration in slushy drinks is significantly higher. Excessive intake of glycerol, especially by children under four, can lead to glycerol intoxication, characterized by symptoms such as sweating, confusion, and potentially severe outcomes like seizures if left untreated.
Hypoglycemia, a condition resulting from low blood sugar levels, can be triggered by glycerol intoxication, necessitating immediate medical attention to prevent severe complications. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, confusion, and in severe cases, unconsciousness and seizures.