Families who can arrange freezer storage
An ice cream lolly is only worth considering for a school meal if the school agrees to accept it and can keep it frozen until lunchtime. You’ll also need to take the journey into account.
Which families is this for?
Children who enjoy a strong cocoa flavour
To choose according to this preference, distinguish between the cocoa content of a coating and the proportion of dark chocolate in a recipe that combines several types of chocolate.
Families who need to check for allergens
The dark products described here contain milk; depending on the product, you’ll also need to check for soya or almonds. The French Ministry of Education says that an individualised support plan (PAI) can set out meal arrangements for a pupil with a food allergy.
What should you check?
First, check with the school that the ice cream lolly can stay frozen until lunchtime. You can then compare the recipes based on the flavour you’re looking for and the allergens you need to avoid.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage at school | Check the school’s arrangements for dropping it off, freezing it and serving it, then follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If I’m bringing a frozen dessert for lunch, I need to know where it will stay frozen until then; around 45% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Dark chocolate flavour | Check whether the percentage refers to the cocoa in the coating or the dark chocolate in the recipe. Also read the product description and ingredients. | If my child prefers a strong cocoa flavour, I want to avoid confusing a dark chocolate shell with a recipe that mixes different chocolates; this would be the top priority for around 28% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging of the product you buy. Take into account the meal arrangements agreed with the school, including any PAI. | If I need to avoid an allergen, the word ‘dark’ isn’t enough to help me choose a recipe; around 27% of consumers would make this check their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘dark’ means milk-free
Carrefour describes Magnum Intense Dark as milk chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating. Auchan’s product information for Ferrero Rondnoir also lists dairy ingredients and soya.
If you need to avoid certain foods, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging of the product you actually buy.
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Relying on the word ‘dark’ alone
Dark chocolate may describe the coating or only part of a recipe. E.Leclerc lists 1.5% dark chocolate for Trium 3 Chocolats, which also combines milk and white chocolate.
If cocoa flavour is important, check what each percentage refers to before comparing two lollies.
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Planning to bring an ice cream lolly without a freezer-storage solution
A standard lunch box won’t guarantee that it stays frozen until lunchtime. For one multipack of ice cream lollies, Auchan recommends freezer storage at –18 °C and says not to refreeze the product after thawing.
Ask the school whether it will accept this dessert and how it would be stored and served. If there’s no suitable arrangement, choose a non-frozen dessert for this meal.
Brands to compare
Magnum
Magnum Intense Dark combines milk chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating.
- Carrefour states that the coating contains 70% cocoa, not the whole lolly.
- This product contains milk and may contain almonds, so check the packaging if you need to avoid these ingredients.
Ferrero Rondnoir
Ferrero Rondnoir is a cocoa ice cream lolly with a dark chocolate shell.
- Auchan states that the recipe contains 32.6% dark chocolate; this does not mean it has a cocoa content of 32.6%.
- The listed ingredients include dairy and soya.
Trium
Trium 3 Chocolats combines dark chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce, white chocolate pieces and a milk chocolate coating.
- This makes it easy to identify a recipe that mixes several types of chocolate, rather than a lolly with only a dark chocolate coating.
- E.Leclerc states that the recipe contains 1.5% dark chocolate; the ingredients also include milk and soya.
Carrefour Sensation
Carrefour sells Chocolat Lait et Noir in a box of four lollies weighing 284 g.
- The pack size and combination of milk and dark chocolate are listed for this product.
- To assess the cocoa flavour and check for allergens, read the ingredients on the packaging of the product you buy.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a standard lunch box enough to take an ice cream lolly to school?
No, it can’t guarantee on its own that the ice cream lolly will stay frozen until lunchtime. Before planning this dessert, check the school’s arrangements for dropping it off, storing it and serving it.
Is a ‘dark chocolate’ ice cream lolly milk-free?
No: the name doesn’t mean that the product is milk-free. Carrefour describes Magnum Intense Dark as milk chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating, while Auchan lists dairy ingredients in Ferrero Rondnoir. Check the ingredients on the packaging in question.
How should you choose if your child has a food allergy?
Only choose a product after checking the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging. Don’t rely on the word ‘dark’. The French Ministry of Education says that a PAI can be put in place for a pupil with a food allergy; if one is in place, follow the meal arrangements agreed with the school.