For school holiday treats, start by choosing a number of ice lollies that suits the portions you’ll need. A large multipack works well if you’re planning several treats, while a smaller box or mini lollies give you more choice over the recipe or portion size. In every case, check the ingredients and allergens on the specific box, then plan a short journey home with an insulated bag for your frozen treats.
If you’re catering for several children or several days of the school holidays, compare the number of ice lollies and the net weight to find a box that suits the portions you need. E.Leclerc and Carrefour, for example, offer multipacks in different sizes.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the box for every recipe you’re considering. The French Ministry of the Economy says that allergens are highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods. Depending on the recipes shown by Carrefour and Magnum, chocolate-coated ice lollies may contain milk, wheat or almonds.
If flavour or coating matters more to you than the number of portions, compare the recipes rather than just the box sizes. Products shown by Magnum and Auchan include white chocolate, caramel or almonds, depending on the product.
Work out how many portions you need and which ingredients to avoid before choosing a flavour. Then check that the box will fit in your freezer and that you can get it home quickly.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and check the allergens highlighted on the specific box, including each recipe in an assortment. | If someone at home needs to avoid an ingredient, the ingredients matter more than the flavour or pack size. Around 31% of consumers in this situation put this first. |
| Number of portions | Compare the number of ice lollies, the net weight and how much space the box will take up in your freezer. | If I’m planning several treats without buying lots of boxes, I look for enough portions first. Around 31% of consumers in this situation would make this their priority. |
| Flavour and size | Look at the flavours, coatings and size of the ice lollies; check which recipes are actually included in an assortment. | If everyone at home likes different flavours, I’d choose a specific recipe or a selection of smaller portions. Around 23% of consumers in this situation would put this first. |
| Getting them home and storing them | Plan to use an insulated bag, keep the journey short and make room in the freezer before you get home. | If it takes a long time to get home from the shops or the freezer is already full, I need to be able to store the ice lollies properly. Around 15% of consumers in this situation would put this first. |
Ingredients vary from one ice lolly to another. Carrefour lists milk and wheat in its Sensation speculoos and chocolate recipe, while Magnum offers a white chocolate recipe with almonds.
Before choosing a box, read its ingredients list and check the highlighted allergens, especially for recipes with biscuits or nuts.
Two boxes can contain different numbers of ice lollies and have different net weights. Products shown by E.Leclerc, Carrefour and ALDI range from boxes of four ice lollies to larger multipacks.
Compare the number of ice lollies and the net weight, then choose an amount you can store and use for the treats you have planned.
A long journey without refrigeration makes it harder to maintain the cold chain. Anses recommends picking up frozen food at the end of your shop and keeping transport time to a minimum.
Carry the ice lollies in an insulated bag and put them in the freezer as soon as you can, following the instructions on the packaging.
Magnum offers chocolate-coated ice lollies, including boxes of four or eight, depending on the product.
Carrefour offers ice lollies in several ranges, including Classic’ and Sensation, with different numbers of lollies per pack.
E.Leclerc offers ECO+ vanilla and chocolate ice lollies in packs of 6, 12 or 16, among other sizes.
ALDI offers ice lollies under the Mucci brand, including mini lollies and double-coated recipes.
Auchan offers its own ice lollies as well as products from other brands, with a range of flavours and pack sizes.
These boxes suit different portion sizes and recipe preferences: assorted mini lollies, packs of eight, or chocolate and caramel recipes in packs of four. For school holiday treats, choose a pack size that meets your needs and check the ingredients on the packaging of the box you select.
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A handy choice if you’d like smaller portions and several recipes in one box. The pack contains six mini lollies; check the packaging for the flavour mix and the ingredients in each recipe.
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Plan for eight portions of vanilla and almond. If young children are eating them, keep an eye on them while they eat the almond pieces. Check the allergens on the specific box, too.
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A good option for several treats if the white chocolate recipe suits everyone who’ll be eating them. The box contains eight ice lollies and weighs 600 g; check the label for ingredients and allergens.
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Choose a chocolate recipe in a box of four rather than a pack with lots of portions. The stated weight is 284 g; check the ingredients for this product before you buy.
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Choose a caramel recipe in a pack of four. The box states a weight of 284 g; if you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the allergens on the specific packaging.
Read the ingredients list on the specific box: the French Ministry of the Economy says that allergens in pre-packed foods are highlighted there. Don’t assume one flavour has the same ingredients as another, even within the same brand.
No. The DGCCRF says displaying a Nutri-Score is voluntary. If one is shown, check the nutrition information, ingredients and stated portion as well. Don’t assume a recipe is suitable for everyone based on the score alone.
Pick them up at the end of your shop, use an insulated bag and keep your journey as short as possible, in line with Anses guidance on maintaining the cold chain. Put them in the freezer as soon as you get home, following the instructions on the box.
Choose according to the number of treats you’re planning, the space available in your freezer and which recipes everyone can eat. Compare the number of ice lollies and the net weight: a large box is only useful if its portions and ingredients suit your household.