If you’re looking for a Fairtrade chocolate ice lolly for a child, check that the specific product carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label. Then read which ingredients it applies to and check the traceability details: mass balance may apply to composite ice creams, as Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France explains. If the child has an allergy, the ingredients list and ‘may contain’ warnings take priority over the label and format.
You want to choose a chocolate ice cream for a child with a Fairtrade commitment shown on the packaging, rather than relying on a general sustainability claim. The logo and details on the back tell you which ingredients are covered, according to Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France.
Your choice should be based on the exact recipe: some chocolate ice creams listed by Ben & Jerry’s and Carrefour contain milk or wheat, among other ingredients, and their other allergens vary. If the ice cream is for school, take account of the child’s individual healthcare plan, if they have one. The French Ministry of National Education explains that such a plan can organise support for a pupil with a food allergy.
An ice lolly, frozen bites and a tub are not served in the same way at snack time. The Cookie Dough Peaces bites featured by Ben & Jerry’s contain Fairtrade ingredients, but they are not a like-for-like alternative to an ice lolly on a stick.
For a chocolate ice cream intended for a child, start with allergens if they’re a concern. Then check the label on the specific product and choose a format that suits the planned snack.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade certification | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo and read which ingredients it covers, along with any details about mass balance. | I want to be able to identify this chocolate ice cream’s Fairtrade commitment before choosing it; around 45% of consumers would make this certification a priority. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients list and ‘may contain’ warnings for the specific product, even if it is described as vegan. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients, the flavour and label aren’t enough to make a decision; around 36% of consumers would prioritise allergens first. |
| Individual format | Check that they are ice lollies on sticks rather than bites or a tub, then check the portions and storage instructions. | When serving an individual ice cream at snack time, I’d rather know whether it comes in separate portions; nearly 19% of consumers would prioritise this format above all else. |
Magnum says it sources its cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. This does not prove that an ice lolly carries the separate Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label.
If Fairtrade is your priority, look for this logo on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen and read the accompanying details.
A chocolate ice cream may also contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for a child’s dietary needs. Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Peaces recipe contains milk, wheat, egg and soya, among other ingredients, and may contain nuts.
Check the label on the specific product, particularly the highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. At school, follow any arrangements in place for the child.
Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Peaces bites and its vegan Cookie Dough tub are different formats from an ice lolly on a stick, even when their product information mentions Fairtrade ingredients.
Before comparing these products with an ice lolly, decide whether you need an individually portioned lolly on a stick for snack time.
Frozen products must be transported and stored according to the instructions on the packaging. Carrefour says not to refreeze its ice lolly product after thawing.
Plan how you’ll transport it to the freezer and follow the instructions on the product you buy.
These examples help you distinguish between a label, a recipe and a format; they don’t mean that every ice cream from a brand has the same certification.
The brand offers frozen treats containing Fairtrade ingredients, including bites and tubs.
Its chocolate ice lollies offer a useful point of comparison for the format, but this does not establish Fairtrade certification for any specific product.
Carrefour Sensation’s speculoos and chocolate ice lollies show you what to look for on the label of an ice cream in this format.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo on the packaging. For a composite ice cream, also read the details on the back, particularly if the logo has an arrow: Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France directs shoppers there to find out which ingredients are covered and how they are traced.
No, not necessarily. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France explains that mass balance may be used for some ingredients in composite products. Read the wording on the ice cream you’ve chosen rather than assuming how its ingredients are traced based on the logo alone.
Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens on the packaging of the specific product. The EU labelling rules require allergens that are present to be highlighted. If the child has an individual healthcare plan, take account of the arrangements for their meals and snacks, in line with the framework set out by the French Ministry of National Education.
No. The term ‘vegan’ doesn’t tell you about every allergen. Auchan’s product information for Ben & Jerry’s vegan Cookie Dough tub lists almonds, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. Always check the label of the product you’re considering.