If Fairtrade is your priority, choose an ice lolly with the Fairtrade / Max Havelaar logo on the packaging and check which ingredients it applies to. According to Max Havelaar France, the label is based on social, economic and environmental criteria. For games night, also compare the number of lollies in the box, allergens in your chosen flavour and how you’ll keep them frozen on the way home. Another cocoa certification alone doesn’t confirm the Fairtrade label you’re looking for.
You want your Fairtrade choice to be based on the logo on the flavour and format you’re buying, rather than a general brand commitment. Ben & Jerry’s France’s statement about its Fairtrade-certified cocoa isn’t enough on its own to identify a specific ice lolly.
You’re planning one ice lolly per player and comparing the number of lollies in each box, as well as the flavours available. For example, listings for two Auchan products specify a number of lollies to check against the recipe you choose.
You need to consider your guests’ dietary restrictions or get the ice lollies home before the game starts. The label for each recipe and being able to put the frozen products away promptly matter just as much as the pack size.
To plan your evening, start by checking for the label you want on the specific product, then look at portions, ingredients and the journey home to your freezer.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label | Look for the Fairtrade / Max Havelaar logo on the product and check which ingredients it applies to; don’t confuse it with Rainforest Alliance. | If I want to serve a chocolate ice lolly associated with the Fairtrade label, a general statement about cocoa isn’t enough. Around 36% of consumers put this check first. |
| Individual portions | Compare the number of lollies in each box and the flavours before planning what to serve. | When several players are waiting for an ice lolly, I want to be able to count out the portions without holding up the game for too long. Around 29% of consumers put ease of serving first. |
| Allergens and keeping them frozen | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour; take an insulated bag and make room in the freezer. | If a guest has an allergy or the journey is a long one, I need to check the recipe and plan how to transport it before choosing a flavour. Around 21% of consumers put these precautions first. |
| Choice of flavours | Compare the recipes and formats available at your chosen shop, without assuming a product has a particular label just because of its category. | To cater for different preferences, I look for a range of flavours while checking the label and ingredients of each one separately. Around 14% of consumers put this choice first. |
Magnum says it uses Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa. This doesn’t mean that a Magnum ice lolly carries the Fairtrade / Max Havelaar label.
Decide which label you’re looking for, then check that it appears on the packaging for the ice lolly and flavour in question.
A box may have enough lollies for your group without being suitable for every guest. France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.
Ask your guests about any dietary restrictions and read the label for each recipe you’re considering. Choose an alternative if needed.
The longer frozen products are left out of the freezer, the harder it is to keep them frozen. Anses advises buying frozen food towards the end of your shop and transporting it in an insulated bag.
Make room in the freezer before you buy, and take the lollies out when you’re ready to serve them. Follow the instructions on the box and don’t refreeze a defrosted product.
In France, the brand offers frozen treats you can eat without a spoon, including bites and ice lollies.
Magnum offers chocolate-coated ice lollies and other chocolate-coated frozen treats.
Auchan listings for POUCE vanilla and chocolate ice lollies and AUCHAN vanilla ice lollies describe boxes of 12.
Carrefour’s range includes ice lollies and other frozen treats from different brands and its own range.
Look for the Fairtrade / Max Havelaar logo on the packaging for the flavour and format you’re planning to buy, then check which ingredients it applies to. According to Max Havelaar France, the label is based on social, economic and environmental criteria. A brand’s statement about its cocoa doesn’t replace checking the specific product.
No, they’re separate certifications. Magnum France says it uses Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa, but that doesn’t mean you can describe an ice lolly as carrying the Fairtrade / Max Havelaar label.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact recipe, including any warnings about possible traces. France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control specifies that allergens in prepacked foods must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Don’t assume that two flavours in the same range have the same ingredients.
Buy them towards the end of your shop, carry them in an insulated bag and put them in the freezer as soon as you get home, following Anses’ advice for frozen food. Also follow the storage temperature on the box. The two Auchan products mentioned specify −18 °C and say not to refreeze a defrosted product.