Warning issued to parents over slushies due to fears of children becoming very sick

A warning has been issued to parents as various Toxic Waste Sour Slushy Freeze and Squeeze products have been recalled due to elevated levels of glycerol which could cause some children to be sick.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have issued the notice and advised consumers not to eat the implicated products.

The FSAI explained that glycerol (E 422), which is an approved food additive in the EU, is used in slush ice drinks as "a substitute or partial substitute for sugar and helps maintain the slushy texture by preventing the liquid from freezing solid."

Although there is no maximum level set for its use in flavoured drinks, legislation states that "it must be used in foods at a level not higher than is necessary, to achieve its intended purpose."

The FSAI pointed out that as children have a lower body weight, if they consume large quantities of glycerol in a short amount of time then some young children could experience side effects, including nausea, vomiting and headaches.

The impacted products include Toxic Waste Blue Raspberry Sour Slushy Freeze and Squeeze (250ml), Toxic Waste Lemon and Lime Sour Slushy Freeze and Squeeze (250ml), and Toxic Waste Apple Sour Slushy Freeze and Squeeze (250ml).

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Retailers have been forced to remove the impacted products from shelves and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Wholesalers and distributers have also been requested to contact their affected customers to recall the impacted products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.