What was meant to be a joyful birthday celebration turned into a nightmare for one family in Stranraer, Scotland. In early 2024, two-year-old Arla Agnew suddenly collapsed and became unresponsive after drinking a well-known frozen drink—Slush Puppie—at a party with other children.
Moments after finishing the icy treat, Arla’s parents noticed something was wrong. Her skin went pale, her body limp. She was unresponsive, and within seconds, chaos broke out. They rushed her to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with hypoglycemic shock, a dangerous condition caused by a severe drop in blood sugar.
The culprit? A surprising ingredient found in many slush drinks: glycerol.
Glycerol is commonly added to slush beverages to prevent them from freezing solid, giving them that smooth, slushy texture. But when consumed in large quantities by small children, especially toddlers, it can become extremely dangerous. Experts say young bodies struggle to process glycerol efficiently, leading to drastic drops in blood sugar and potentially life-threatening outcomes—just like what happened to Arla.
Health authorities are now sounding the alarm. Doctors and child safety advocates are urging parents to limit or avoid giving slush drinks to children under the age of four. The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of sweetened frozen beverages that often appear harmless but may pose serious health risks to toddlers.
Thankfully, Arla survived after emergency treatment—but the terrifying experience has left a lasting impact on her family and community.
What should have been a normal day ended in panic… and raised an urgent question:
How many other parents are unaware of this hidden danger?