In May 2026, EFSA set an acute reference dose (ARfD) of 125 mg/kg body weight for glycerol (E 422) after finding that infants and toddlers can exceed it with as little as 29 mL of a commercial sweetened slush drink. No mandatory age restriction is in force in the EU or Canada as of June 2026. The recommended precautionary approach is to avoid serving these drinks to young children.
Sweetened slush drinks — sold as slushies, granitas, or frozen beverages — are common at convenience stores, cinemas, and amusement parks. What sets them apart from plain water ice is a texturizing ingredient that keeps them soft and pourable even at very low temperatures. That ingredient is glycerol.
In May 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a scientific opinion concluding that infants, toddlers, and young children were likely to exceed the glycerol ARfD in a single slush-drink consumption occasion. That finding followed reports of children experiencing hypoglycaemia after drinking them.
Here is what the opinion covers, how to read a label in Canada, and what parents can do right now.
What Is Glycerol (E 422)?
Glycerol is a simple organic compound — a triol alcohol — produced either from vegetable oils (soy, palm, canola) or synthetically. It is used in food as a humectant, solvent, and texturizing agent. In commercial sweetened slush drinks, it lowers the freezing point and gives the drink its characteristic semi-liquid consistency.
In the European Union it is authorized as a food additive under the code E 422. In Canada it is listed in Health Canada’s List of Permitted Food Additives under the name “glycerol” or “glycerin.” Its international INS code is 422.
Glycerol is not a synthetic chemical additive in the everyday sense: it occurs naturally in fats and in many fermented foods. But in slush drinks it is added at concentrations well above those found naturally in food — typically between 3 and 15 g per 100 mL of finished product, depending on the formulation.
What Dose Is Concerning for Children?
EFSA established an acute reference dose (ARfD) of 125 mg of glycerol per kilogram of body weight, based on observed effects on blood glucose and metabolism in available studies.
For a 12-month-old infant weighing approximately 10 kg, this ARfD corresponds to a total of 1,250 mg of glycerol. With a slush drink containing 15 g of glycerol per 100 mL — a concentration EFSA considers representative of some commercial products — the ARfD would be reached with only 29 mL, less than two tablespoons.
For a 2-year-old weighing 12 kg, the same calculation produces a potential exceedance at 83 mL. For a 5-year-old, the threshold falls around 150 mL, depending on body weight and product concentration.
What the reported cases show: EFSA’s opinion references reports of adverse effects in children — including hypoglycaemia, vomiting, and loss of consciousness — following consumption of sweetened slush drinks. Similar episodes had already been documented in the UK, which prompted the Food Standards Agency to issue guidance as early as June 2025.
Does EFSA Recommend Banning Glycerol?
No. EFSA is a scientific advisory body: it issues opinions, it does not legislate. Its May 2026 opinion recommends that consumption of glycerol-containing slush drinks be restricted to adults, not banned outright. Any regulatory action is a decision for the European Commission and member states.
In the UK, the FSA had already acted independently in June 2025, recommending that retailers not sell sweetened slush drinks to children under five.
In continental Europe and Canada, no regulatory change was in force as of the publication date of this article (June 2026). Glycerol remains legally permitted in slush drinks sold in Canada, with no mandatory age restriction.
How to Read a Label in Canada
If you are buying a pre-packaged slush drink, look for these terms in the ingredient list:
- Glycerol — the Canadian regulatory name
- Glycerin or glycerine — accepted synonyms on Canadian labels
- E 422 — the European code, visible on some imported products
Slush drinks sold in bulk from machines (convenience stores, cinemas) typically do not come with a visible ingredient list for the consumer. In that case, the only way to know whether a product contains glycerol is to ask the retailer for the technical data sheet for the concentrate being used.
A commercial slush drink made without glycerol will generally be harder or grainier than one formulated with the additive. The soft, pourable texture typical of commercial slushies is generally a sign that a texturizing agent like glycerol is present.
Parent Action Guide
In the absence of specific Canadian regulation, here is what you can do today:
- Infants (under 12 months): avoid sweetened slush drinks entirely, with or without glycerol.
- Toddlers (1–3 years): avoid slush drinks containing glycerol. A single commercial serving can exceed the ARfD for this age group.
- Children (3–10 years): limit consumption and avoid giving multiple servings in the same day. Check ingredient lists and prefer products without glycerol.
- Homemade slush drinks: make slush drinks with crushed ice and pure fruit juice without added glycerol — the texture will differ but glycerol exposure will be zero.
NoJunk scans ingredient lists and flags glycerol, E 422, and other additives. Free to download on iOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is glycerol safe for adults?
Yes, according to EFSA’s May 2026 opinion. The agency identified no health concern for adults at habitually consumed doses. The acute reference dose of 125 mg/kg body weight applies to all age groups, but an adult weighing 70 kg would need to consume approximately 583 mL of a slush drink containing 15 g/100 mL glycerol in a single sitting to exceed it — a volume most people would not consume at once.
Has the EU banned glycerol in slush drinks?
No. EFSA published a scientific opinion in May 2026 recommending that consumption of glycerol-containing slush drinks be restricted to adults, but EFSA does not have the authority to issue regulations. The European Commission and member states must decide on any regulatory measures. As of the publication of this article, no ban was in force in the EU. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency issued guidance in June 2025 recommending retailers not sell sweetened slush drinks to children under 5.
What label terms indicate a slush drink contains glycerol?
Look for “glycerol”, “glycerin”, “glycerine”, or “E 422” (on European imports) in the ingredient list. In Canada, the regulatory names are “glycerol” or “glycerin”; the INS code 422 may also appear. Glycerol is used as a texturizing agent in commercial sweetened slush drinks to produce a soft, pourable consistency at very low temperatures. Its absence from the ingredient list generally indicates the drink is made solely from ice and syrup.
Are homemade slush drinks safer for children?
Yes, if prepared without added glycerol. A homemade slush drink made from crushed ice and fruit juice or plain syrup does not need glycerol for texture. The consistency will be firmer than a commercial slush drink, but glycerol exposure will be zero. Avoid commercial slush drink kits whose ingredient lists include glycerol, glycerin, or E 422.
Should I wait for Health Canada to act before limiting my child’s intake?
No. Health Canada had not issued formal guidance on glycerol in slush drinks as of the publication date of this article (June 2026). In the absence of a national directive, you can apply the precautionary approach recommended by EFSA: limit or avoid commercial slush drinks containing glycerol (E 422) for infants, toddlers, and young children, particularly when multiple servings might be consumed in the same day.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-08 — Source: EFSA Journal 2026, opinion on glycerol in slush drinks