2023-08-17 14:48:10
August 17, 2023
The Food standard agency (FSA) British food safety agency recommends in a press release not to sell granita to children aged 4 and under.
Should we be wary of granitas, this grainy sorbet, made of ice cream in syrup? In any case, this is what the Food standard agency (FSA) UK Food Safety Agency. In an Aug. 10 statement, she recommends not selling slush to children 4 and under and limiting promotional messaging — such as “all you can eat” — to kids 10 and under. In question ? The glycerol contained in this summer star product.
According to UFC-que Choisir, glycerol is a humectant. “It gives products a smoothness and protects them from drying out. Consumed in large quantities (around 50 g/day), it can cause intestinal discomfort (diarrhea, irritation of the intestinal mucous membranes)”, notes the consumer defense association.
Today we have issued new voluntary industry guidance on glycerol in slush-ice drinks. We’re advising that they should not be sold to children four years of age and under. Also, free refill promotions should not be offered to under-10s. More info:
— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) August 10, 2023
The FSA notes that young children can suffer from headaches and disorders caused by exposure to glycerol. She reports that two children were hospitalized in Scotland, in 2021 and 2022, following glycerol poisoning. The FSA reports symptoms such as low blood sugar and loss of consciousness.
Effects related to body weight
Also according to the health agency, poisoning can occur at high levels of exposure, if the child consumes several slushies in a short period of time. The effects of glycerol are linked to body weight: the people at risk are therefore low-weight children who consume a large amount of granita.
“Although the symptoms of glycerol poisoning are generally mild, it is important for parents to be aware of the risks, especially at high levels of consumption. It is likely that there is under-reporting of glycerol poisoning, as parents may attribute nausea and headaches to other factors,” notes Adam Hardgrave, head of additives at the FSA. It asks manufacturers to reduce the concentration of glycerol in their products, used to ensure the consistency of the sorbet.
This additive is present in many other everyday products but in much lower concentrations than for granita. The UFC-Que Choisir classified glycerol at level 2 which means “tolerable” but requires a “vigilance for certain populations ».
-
Source : Food standards agency, 10 août 2023 – UFCquechoisir.org
-
Written by : Dorothée Duchemin – Edited by Vincent Roche
1692324447
#Granites #dangerous #health #young #children #Featured
