What drink has glycerol? Unpacking its presence in slushies, sodas, and more

December 20, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), some slush ice drinks, especially those formulated to be sugar-free, contain the additive glycerol to create the unique slushy effect. Understanding what drink has glycerol is crucial for informed consumption, particularly given recent health advisories concerning children.

Quick Summary

Glycerol is an additive in sugar-free slushies, sodas, and other beverages to provide texture and sweetness. It also naturally occurs in fermented drinks like wine.

Key Points

Slushies are a primary source: Sugar-free slush ice drinks use glycerol (E422) to prevent them from freezing solid and to add sweetness.
Concerns for young children: Excessive consumption of high-glycerol slushies can cause intoxication in young children, leading to headaches, sickness, and other serious side effects.
Glycerol in processed drinks: Glycerol ester of wood rosin is used as a stabilizer in some sodas, vitamin-enhanced waters, and lemonades.
Natural fermentation byproduct: Naturally occurring glycerol is found in fermented beverages such as wine, beer, and even honey.
Identification on labels: Look for 'glycerol,' 'glycerine,' or 'E422' on product labels to identify the additive.
Regulatory guidelines exist: Food safety authorities have issued guidance for manufacturers and consumers concerning glycerol, especially in relation to children's consumption.

Glycerol’s Primary Home: Slushies and Low/No-Sugar Drinks

The most notable beverage containing significant levels of glycerol is the slushie, or slush ice drink. Historically, sugar was used to prevent these drinks from freezing solid. However, with increased public health concerns about sugar intake and the implementation of sugar taxes, many manufacturers have replaced sugar with glycerol (also known as glycerine or E422). This sugar alcohol gives the drink its signature slushy texture while providing sweetness without the high calorie count of sugar.

The use of glycerol in slushies has recently come under scrutiny due to potential health risks, especially for young children. Smaller body mass and developing metabolisms make it harder for children to process large amounts of the compound, leading to a risk of glycerol intoxication. Symptoms can range from headaches and nausea to more severe conditions like hypoglycemia and loss of consciousness. As a result, many food safety agencies, like the FSA in the UK, have issued updated guidelines, advising against consumption by very young children and recommending limits for slightly older ones.

Processed Beverages with Added Glycerol

Beyond slushies, glycerol or its derivative, glycerol ester of wood rosin, is used in a variety of other processed beverages as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and flavoring agent. It helps maintain the consistency and appearance of the final product.

Fruit and citrus-flavored sodas: Manufacturers use glycerol ester of wood rosin to keep flavors and color consistent throughout the drink.
Lemonades: Similar to sodas, it helps maintain the stability of the beverage.
Vitamin-enhanced waters: This additive is often used in functional beverages to stabilize various ingredients.
Certain dairy drinks and creams: Glycerol can act as an emulsifier and thickener in some dairy-based beverages.

Fermented and Natural Sources of Glycerol

While processed drinks often have glycerol added as a food additive, it is also found naturally in several fermented foods and beverages.

Wine and Wine Vinegar: During the fermentation process, yeast produces glycerol as a byproduct. The concentration can vary depending on the type of wine and the fermentation process, with white wines often containing lower levels than red wines.
Beer: Like wine, beer contains naturally occurring glycerol from the fermentation of sugars.
Honey: This natural sweetener also contains glycerin, which provides some of its humectant and moisturizing properties.
Vegetable and animal fats: Glycerol is the backbone of triglycerides, the main component of fats and oils. It is naturally obtained during the production of these ingredients.

The Role of Glycerol in Different Drink Types


Drink Type	Primary Function of Glycerol	Concentration (Note)	Potential Health Considerations (Children)	Source Type
Sugar-Free Slushies	Anti-freeze agent, sweetener	High concentration	Risk of intoxication with excessive intake	Added (E422)
Flavored Sodas & Waters	Stabilizer, emulsifier, flavor	Low concentration	Generally considered safe at normal consumption levels	Added (Ester of wood rosin)
Wine & Beer	Natural fermentation byproduct	Low to moderate concentration	Not typically a concern from this source	Natural

Identifying and Understanding Glycerol in Drinks

For consumers, it can be important to identify glycerol in products, especially for parents concerned about their children's intake of slushies. On ingredient labels, glycerol might be listed as glycerol, glycerine, or its E number, E422. In some instances, like in certain sodas, the ingredient might be listed as a more complex compound like glycerol ester of wood rosin.

The Food Standards Agency provides clear advice regarding glycerol in slush ice drinks on its website. It's an excellent resource for anyone seeking authoritative information on food additives and safety considerations. Checking the ingredient list is the most reliable way to determine if a beverage contains this additive.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the most prominent drink with significant levels of glycerol is the sugar-free slushie, where it is added in relatively high concentrations to create and maintain its unique frozen texture. However, glycerol is also present in lower amounts as a stabilizing or flavoring agent in various processed beverages, including some sodas and flavored waters. Furthermore, it occurs naturally in fermented drinks like wine and beer. While generally recognized as safe for adults, recent health guidelines suggest moderation for children, particularly concerning high-glycerol slushies, due to risks associated with excessive intake. For peace of mind, checking ingredient lists is always the best practice. For more detailed information on food additives and safety guidelines, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a valuable resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

Glycerol, or E422, is a sugar alcohol used as a food additive. It's included in drinks primarily for its ability to sweeten without high calories and to act as a humectant, preventing frozen products like slushies from becoming solid ice.

Not all slushies contain high levels of glycerol. However, recent health advisories from agencies like the FSA have warned that sugar-free versions, which rely on glycerol for texture, can pose a risk of intoxication to very young children if consumed excessively.

Consumers should check the ingredient list for 'glycerol,' 'glycerine,' or the E number 'E422'. Some advisories also recommend asking the seller, especially at locations where product information may not be readily visible.

Symptoms can include headaches, nausea, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and, in rare, severe cases, shock or loss of consciousness.

Some sports drinks, along with vitamin-enhanced waters and lemonades, may contain glycerol ester of wood rosin, which is a derivative of glycerol used for stabilizing and flavoring.

The glycerol in wine and beer is a natural byproduct of the fermentation process, rather than a deliberate additive. Its concentration is generally much lower than in high-glycerol processed drinks like slushies.

Yes, glycerol is used in many other food products. These include cereal bars, chewing gum, certain icings, condiments, spices, and canned goods, typically in smaller quantities.