If the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark is essential to you, choose a chocolate ice lolly whose packaging you can check. If there’s an arrow next to the mark, read the information on the back about the ingredients covered and their traceability. Rainforest Alliance certification is not a substitute for this mark. If you’re taking ice lollies to a festival campsite, also make sure you can store them as directed until you’re ready to eat them, and check the allergens for the flavour you choose.
If fair trade is your deciding factor, check the mark on the packaging rather than assuming that another cocoa-related initiative means a product is Fairtrade certified. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar recommends checking the back of the packaging when there’s an arrow next to its mark.
If you’re planning to eat ice lollies at the campsite, check before buying how you’ll keep them as directed during the journey and while you’re there. The DGCCRF stresses the importance of maintaining the cold chain.
If you’re buying for several people, read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact flavour. In France, the DGCCRF says allergens must be highlighted on the labels of pre-packed foods.
For chocolate ice lollies to take to a festival campsite, check the mark first if Fairtrade is a must-have, then look at storage requirements and the ingredients for your chosen flavour.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fair trade mark | Look for Fairtrade/Max Havelaar on the packaging. If there’s an arrow next to the mark, check the back for details of the ingredients covered and their traceability. | If fair trade is essential to me, I want to know what the mark covers on this composite ice cream; around 42% of consumers make this their priority. |
| Keeping them cold | Read the storage instructions on the pack and make sure you’ll have access to suitable facilities during the journey and at the campsite. | If I’m taking ice lollies to a festival, I need to be able to store them as directed on the pack; around 33% of consumers put this first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and highlighted allergens for the specific flavour you plan to buy. | When I’m buying for a group, I want to be able to rule out a flavour with ingredients that could be a problem; ingredients and allergens are the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Magnum says the Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa in Double Sunlover is mixed with non-certified cocoa under a mass balance system. This does not mean the ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark.
If Fairtrade is essential for your purchase, look for its mark on the pack and read the accompanying details, especially if there’s an arrow.
The journey and your stay at the campsite matter just as much as your choice in the shop. The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature can make food unsafe.
Check which refrigeration facilities are available and read the festival rules. Buy frozen food last and keep transport time to a minimum.
The name of a range won’t tell you what’s in the specific ice lolly you’re buying.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for that product, then keep its packaging handy for the group until you’re ready to eat.
An ice lolly brand that helps you distinguish a Rainforest Alliance initiative from a Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark requirement.
A retailer whose online range lets you browse ice lolly products before checking their packaging.
A retailer with a range of ice lollies and mini ice lollies to browse before buying.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the packaging. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar says that if there’s an arrow next to the mark on a composite product, you should check the back of the pack to find out which ingredients are covered and what type of traceability applies.
The Rainforest Alliance claim does not prove that an ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark. Magnum says, for example, that the Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa in Double Sunlover is mixed with non-certified cocoa under a mass balance system. Check separately for any Fairtrade mark on the packaging of the product you’re considering.
Yes, as long as you can follow the storage instructions on the pack during the journey and your stay. Check which refrigeration facilities are available and read the organiser’s rules before buying. The DGCCRF highlights the risks of breaking the cold chain.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact flavour, rather than assuming that two products in the same range have the same ingredients. For pre-packed foods in France, the DGCCRF says allergens must be highlighted on the label.