Children 7 and younger suffered a sudden sharp drop in blood sugar, reduced consciousness and a build-up of acid in their blood within an hour of downing slushies containing glycerol, researchers reported March 11 in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Nearly all of the children in the study -- 94% -- experienced a drop in consciousness, 95% had dangerously low blood sugar, and 94% developed a buildup of acid in the body. Other symptoms included low potassium levels, excessive fat levels in the blood, and high levels of glycerol in the urine.

Across the UK and Ireland in recent years, there has been an increase in kids becoming seriously ill soon after drinking sugar-free slushies. A new study has pointed the finger at glycerol, a compound that’s used as a sugar substitute and,