If fair trade is essential to you, choose an ice lolly whose box carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar or Fair for Life label, if you’re happy with this alternative certification, and check which ingredients the label applies to. For school-holiday treats, also check the allergens, portion count and journey home to the freezer. The Rainforest Alliance claim made for Magnum is not a substitute for a fair-trade label.
If fair trade matters more to you than a brand’s general commitments, look for the logo on the ice lolly you’re thinking of buying. For a multi-ingredient ice lolly, the information on the back of the box can help you understand which ingredients are covered.
If you’re sharing treats between several children, check the recipe and any ‘may contain’ warnings carefully. Carrefour’s product information for the ice lollies reviewed here lists milk, nuts or traces of other allergens, depending on the product.
The number of ice lollies, the flavours and the total quantity matter just as much as the space in your freezer. You’ll also need to get them home without leaving them exposed to heat for too long.
Check the box of the ice lolly you’ve chosen for a fair-trade label; don’t rely on a brand’s general claims alone. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar and Fair for Life are two options to look for. Rainforest Alliance is a different scheme.
Look for this if: you specifically want this fair-trade label on your ice lolly.
Also check: Max Havelaar France says that, on a multi-ingredient product, the arrow alongside the label directs you to the back of the pack for details of the ingredients covered and their traceability.
Consider this if: you’re happy with this alternative fair-trade certification and can find its logo on the exact product you’re buying.
Bear in mind: Ecocert says its logo may appear on a product when at least 80% of its raw materials come from fair trade. This is not the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label.
Consider this if: you’re interested in the cocoa or vanilla sourcing covered by this certification, rather than a fair-trade label.
Important: Magnum says it sources from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms and uses mass balance for cocoa. This claim does not prove that a Magnum ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar or Fair for Life label.
| What to check | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of fair trade | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar or Fair for Life logo on the box. If the Fairtrade label has an arrow, check the back for details of the ingredients covered and their traceability. | I want to identify a fair-trade certification on the ice lolly I’m serving, rather than relying on a general claim about cocoa. Around 42% of consumers may make this their top priority. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for every flavour in the multipack. | If a child needs to avoid an ingredient, I need to check the whole box before planning a treat for everyone. This could be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Compare the number of ice lollies and the total quantity, then plan how you’ll transport them and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | To spread treats across the school holidays, I need enough portions and a suitable journey home for frozen food. Around 25% of consumers may prioritise this. |
The Rainforest Alliance claim Magnum makes about its cocoa and vanilla sourcing does not prove that an ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar or Fair for Life label.
If fair trade is a must for you, look for the relevant logo on the exact box you’re buying.
On a multi-ingredient ice lolly, a Fairtrade label with an arrow points you to more details on the back of the packaging. Without checking these, it’s easy to misunderstand which ingredients are covered or how they’re traced.
Read this information before choosing, especially if you’re looking for certification covering cocoa, sugar or vanilla.
A multipack may contain several recipes. Carrefour Classic’s product information lists different allergens, depending on the ice lolly and any traces present. The size of the box tells you nothing about whether it’s suitable for each child.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the multipack before offering it to someone with an allergy.
Ice lollies need to stay frozen on the journey home to your freezer. The Ministry of Agriculture gives −18 °C as the reference temperature for frozen storage.
Pick up your ice lollies at the end of your shop, protect them from the heat on the way home and put them away promptly, following the instructions on the box.
Use these pointers to read packaging and understand the schemes being claimed. A brand or retailer name alone does not certify a particular ice lolly.
A label to look for if you want your chosen product to carry this fair-trade certification.
A brand to consider separately if you’re looking for the Rainforest Alliance scheme it describes for its cocoa and vanilla.
A multipack of ice lollies to compare by pack size and the recipes in its different flavours.
No, not if you’re looking for a product carrying the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar or Fair for Life label. Magnum describes its Rainforest Alliance scheme for cocoa and vanilla. If you require fair-trade certification, look separately for the logo on the exact box you’re buying.
It indicates that you should read the details on the back of a multi-ingredient product. Max Havelaar France directs shoppers there to identify the ingredients covered and how they’re traced. Don’t assume that every ingredient in the ice lolly has the same certification.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each flavour before sharing the ice lollies. Also compare the number of portions and the quantities: two similar-looking multipacks may not provide the same number of treats.
Keep the time between buying them and putting them in the freezer to a minimum, and protect them from the heat on the journey. Follow the instructions on the box. The Ministry of Agriculture gives −18 °C as the reference temperature for frozen storage.
No. A retailer’s range of fair-trade products doesn’t guarantee that it stocks ice lollies, or a particular product in your local store. Max Havelaar France says Aldi stocks Fairtrade products throughout the year, while Carrefour and E.Leclerc stock them occasionally. Check local availability and look for the label on the packaging of the ice lolly you choose.