An ice cream van fleet owner says his decision to stop selling ‘slushy’ drinks three years ago has been the right one despite losing business - as doctors today warned of the health risks they pose to children.

Gary Rich, whose pink Tonibell ice cream vans are a common sight across Kent, pulled the ice drinks from sale on his vehicles after being prompted to investigate the ingredients when parents queried why their youngsters had long-lasting stains on their lips hours after drinking one.

The brightly coloured drinks - with their rainbow range of flavours - are hugely appealing but most contain glycerol instead of sugar to stop them setting completely solid.

Doctors are concerned if a young child drinks a slush too quickly, they could end up with glycerol intoxication, which may cause shock, low blood sugar or loss of consciousness.

The warning comes amid calls for authorities to change official health advice.

Current Food Standards Agency advice says under-fives should not have the drinks at all and youngsters under 11 should not consume more than one.

However, researchers are now calling for this recommendation to be raised to at least age eight.

It comes after studies involving 21 cases of two-to-seven-year-olds who required emergency treatment after drinking the partly frozen drinks.

Mr Rich, who is the third generation to take on the running of the much-loved family business based in Herne Bay, says he knows he made the right decision because he had “a duty of care” towards customers.

He says today’s comments by medical chiefs have granted him further “peace of mind” he made the right call after finding out more about the ingredients and the amount of sugar in each serving.

He explained: “We decided to make that decision to stop selling slush, on the basis of the effects it was having on children.

“I’m glad we decided to take and make that decision.”

However, there has been a down-side for Tonibell over the last three years, with Mr Rich revealing the firm has often lost bookings, particularly for school or PTA events in summer, when he explained to potential customers there are no slush drinks on his vans.

“They want an ice cream van but they also want slush on that ice cream van” he said.

“When we obviously try and educate them and tell them why we don’t sell slush it’s ‘thank you but we’ll come back to you’ and they go for another person or another supplier.”

With the release of today’s research, Mr Rich hopes that approach will continue to change and more parents too will come to realise the drinks may not be as suitable as an ice cream or frozen lolly for their offspring.

Last February, Marcelle Richards from Bexleyheath said she felt her toddler was “lucky to be alive” after she drank a slush at Gravity trampoline park in Bluewater and fell unconscious after complaining of a tummy ache.

Marcelle said she was advised by the member of staff selling her the drink that it was not suitable for under four-year-olds but she thought that was just because there was a lot of sugar in it and not because of any other dangers.

When families come to Tonibell ice cream vans asking for a slush, Mr Rich says the team across his fleet of 12 vehicles always try to educate parents and explain why the company has chosen to no longer be a stockist.

He says he does not think adults always realise what goes into each drink - which contains up to 40g of sugar in one 8oz cup.

“That’s one whopping fact,” explained Mr Rich.

“On top of that you’ve got this glycerol - the effect that it causes the children, with the low blood sugar and loss of consciousness, is a massive warning for us.

“I get so much satisfaction when people come up to our vehicles and they actually take an ice cream instead of a slush.

“I can feel rest assured that I’ve done something and we can feel right in ourselves.”