Experts are recommending that children under eight avoid slushie drinks containing glycerol, after finding it can cause serious side effects in young children.

A new study by UCD found the glycerol in the drink can cause headaches, nausea and decreased consciousness.

Researchers looked at 21 cases where young children ended up in Emergency Departments after drinking a slushie which contained the common sweetener glycerol.

This is a naturally occurring alcohol and sugar substitute which is often used in slushies.

In each case - the children developed headaches, nausea or vomiting and then suffered decreased consciousness, a sharp drop in blood sugar levels and a build-up of acid in their blood.

Experts are now calling for this advice to be revisited given the potential dangerous of glycerol on children.

A slushie drink or slush puppy iced drink being poured from a machine into a plastic cup. Image: Alamy

Lead author of the study Professor Ellen Crushell said a young child's body can't handle it.

"Glycerol is used as a kind of an anti-freeze and and a sweetener," she said.

"It has been thought to be safe, but we now know that in small children, if they get a large dose of glycerol, such as drinking a large slushie quickly, they can get very sick.

"I think the standard is 500ml and I suppose part of the problem is we don't know exactly how much glycerol is in them."

The FSAI's advice for parents, guardians and caregivers is to limit young children’s consumption of slush ice drinks that contain glycerol, due to potential side effects including headaches, nausea and vomiting.

It advises that children aged four and under should not consume glycerol-containing slush ice drinks and that consumption should be limited to no more than one per day for children aged between five and ten years of age.

Slush ice beverage aka slushie or slushy or slurpie. Image: Alamy

The FSAI also states that glycerol is an EU approved additive and is used to lower the sugar content of drinks.

"Glycerol gives ice drinks a slushy effect and whilst it is generally not harmful, there are concerns about its effects on young children when consumed in large quantities," a statement from the FSAI read.

"Slush ice drinks are sold via slush ice machines in a variety of outlets, sold pre-packaged in supermarkets or retail stores and can be made in the home using a slush ice drink machine."

The FSAI will carefully examine the findings of this newly published research and may "make any appropriate changes" to their advice following that review, if warranted.

Slushie machines, 1-7-20. Image: memejojo / Stockimo / Alamy