The researchers studied the cases of 21 two-to-seven-year-olds in the UK and Ireland who needed emergency treatment soon after drinking a slushy product. The brightly coloured drinks are designed to appeal to children - but most contain the naturally occurring sweetener glycerol,

Children under eight should not drink slushy ice drinks containing glycerol, researchers have warned after a string of hospitalisations in the UK and Ireland.The brightly coloured drinks marketed towards children often use glycerol as a sweetener and anti-freezing agent.

Children under eight could soon be put on a slushy ban due to the drink’s potentially dangerous ingredient. Scientists have warned children younger than eight should not be given slush-ice drinks containing the sweetener glycerol.