For a children’s treat, first check the allergens on the packaging of the product you choose: a dark chocolate coating doesn’t mean the ice lolly is free from milk or nuts. If it’s suitable for everyone in the group, choose a more intense recipe for a child who already enjoys dark chocolate, or compare pack sizes and nutritional values per portion if you’re serving several children.
Before buying for a party, trip or shared treat, ask about any dietary restrictions. The Auchan product listings for the Magnum, NUII, Ferrero Rondnoir and Pilpa sticks reviewed here mention milk; depending on the recipe, other allergens or possible traces may also be listed on the label.
If your child likes a strong cocoa flavour, check which part of the lolly the intensity claim applies to. The Auchan listing for Magnum Intense Dark states that its dark chocolate coating contains 70% cocoa, not the entire ice lolly.
If several children are sharing a box, the number of sticks isn’t the only thing to consider: compare their size and the nutritional information per portion too. The DGCCRF says that nutrition declarations on pre-packed foods provide information including energy, fat and sugars.
For a shared treat, first rule out recipes that don’t meet the group’s dietary requirements. Then compare the flavour you’re looking for, the portion you’ll serve and how you’ll transport the lollies.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens in the group | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the pack you buy, especially for milk, soya and nuts. | If a child needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to be able to rule out a lolly before serving it. Around 33% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Cocoa flavour | Check which part of the recipe any stated cocoa percentage applies to, then look at the ingredients in the ice cream and coating. | A child who already enjoys dark chocolate might like a stronger flavour, but the word ‘dark’ alone doesn’t tell you what it will taste like. This would be the first thing around 25% of consumers consider. |
| Portion and nutrition | Compare the size of the lolly, as well as the energy, sugars and fat per 100 g and per portion where this is stated. | When serving an occasional ice cream, I want to know what a whole lolly contains, not just read the figures per 100 g. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Pack size and storage | Check the number of lollies, the ingredients in each variety in a selection pack, and the storage instructions on the packaging. | When I’m serving several children, I need enough lollies and a journey that will keep them frozen. This would be the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
The Auchan listings for the Magnum Intense Dark, NUII, Ferrero Rondnoir and Pilpa products mentioned here list milk. Other ingredients or possible traces vary by recipe.
Ask about the group’s dietary requirements, then check the ingredients and precautionary statements on the exact pack you’re buying.
The stated figure may apply only to the coating: the 70% cocoa listed for Magnum Intense Dark doesn’t describe the nutritional composition of the whole lolly. The French National Health Insurance Fund advises limiting children’s consumption of sugary foods, particularly when they’re also high in fat.
To compare two recipes, check the sugars and fat per 100 g, then look at the values for the portion you’ll serve.
The Pilpa box described by Auchan includes different coatings, including a dark chocolate variety. The mini size doesn’t mean every stick has the same ingredients.
Check the ingredients in each variety before offering the selection to a group with dietary restrictions.
Time spent out of the freezer is also important when planning a treat. Anses recommends picking up frozen food at the end of your shop, using an insulated bag and keeping the journey home as short as possible.
Put the lollies away as soon as you get home, and follow the storage and defrosting instructions on the packaging.
The Auchan listing for Magnum Intense Dark describes chocolate ice cream with a dark chocolate coating stated to contain 70% cocoa.
The box of four 200 g sticks featured by Auchan combines cocoa ice cream, dark chocolate and cocoa pieces.
The product described by Auchan combines dark chocolate, chocolate ice cream, caramel sauce and Brazil nut pieces.
The eight-mini-lolly selection pack featured by Auchan includes a vanilla ice cream variety with a dark chocolate coating.
These two formats let you explore two different options for a treat: dark chocolate ice cream sticks and mini fruit sorbet sticks with dark chocolate. Check the allergens and nutritional information on the pack you choose before serving.
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Worth considering if your child already enjoys dark chocolate ice cream sticks. The box contains four sticks, weighing 312 g in total.
The product contains milk and soya; also check the packaging for possible traces if anyone at the gathering has dietary restrictions. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Follow the storage instructions and do not refreeze once thawed.
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Worth considering if smaller portions and a fruit sorbet recipe with dark chocolate suit the group’s tastes. The box contains six mini sticks, weighing 282 g in total.
The product contains soya and may contain traces of other allergens, including milk and nuts: check the statements on the pack. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Follow the storage instructions and do not refreeze once thawed.
No. Having ‘dark chocolate’ in the name doesn’t guarantee that a product is free from milk or nuts. The Auchan listings for the Magnum Intense Dark, Ferrero Rondnoir, NUII and Pilpa products mentioned here list milk; some also list nuts as ingredients or possible traces. Read the packaging of the product you buy before serving it.
Start with flavours your child already enjoys, then check whether the cocoa claim applies to the coating or another part of the recipe. According to the Auchan listing, the 70% cocoa in Magnum Intense Dark applies to its dark coating; this figure alone doesn’t describe the whole ice lolly.
Check both when values per portion are given: figures per 100 g make it easier to compare recipes, while the portion tells you what’s in the lolly you’re serving. The DGCCRF says nutrition declarations provide information including energy, fat and sugars.
When choosing a treat to share, focus first on the ingredients list, allergens, quantity and nutrition declaration. The DGCCRF includes these among the labelling details required for pre-packed foods; also read the product’s storage instructions.
Pick up frozen products at the end of your shop, carry them in an insulated bag and keep your journey as short as possible, in line with Anses advice. Once you’re home, follow the storage temperature and thawing instructions on the pack.