Fairtrade Chocolate Ice Lollies for the Office: What to Check

Who is this choice for?

People who look for the Fairtrade mark

You want to check what’s covered by Fairtrade/Max Havelaar on the packaging, rather than relying on a brand’s general commitment.

Teams with access to a freezer

You can organise an ice-cream break if it’s practical to transport the products, store them at work and get them back into the freezer promptly.

People buying for a group

You need to check the ingredients of each product and take account of any allergies colleagues have told you about before choosing a box or tub.

What should you check before buying?

If you’re stocking up on ice lollies for the office, check the Fairtrade evidence on the product you’ve chosen, then look at storage requirements, ingredients and how the portions will be served.

Criteria	What to check	Who it matters to
Fairtrade evidence	Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the exact product packaging. If there’s a black arrow next to the mark, check the back for details of the ingredients it covers and the traceability information provided.	I want the chocolate ice lolly to meet my Fairtrade criteria, not just a brand’s general promise. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Storage and serving	Make sure there’s a freezer at work and transport the products in an insulated bag. Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen.	For a treat with colleagues, I need to be able to keep the ice lollies cold and hand them out without a long wait. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens	Read the ingredients list and check the allergens highlighted on each product; don’t assume that different flavours have the same ingredients.	I’m buying for a group, so I need to rule out any product that isn’t suitable for the allergies colleagues have told me about. Nearly 20% of consumers put this check at the top of their list.
Format and availability	Check the number of ice lollies or portions and confirm the exact product available from your chosen shop or grocery collection service.	I need enough portions for the team and a product I can get from my chosen shop. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.

Pitfalls to avoid

Confusing Rainforest Alliance with Fairtrade

Magnum says it sources cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. This doesn’t prove that an individual ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark.

If Fairtrade is what you’re looking for, check for its mark on the packaging of the product you plan to buy.
Overlooking the information linked to the black arrow

For a product made with several ingredients, such as an ice lolly, the arrow on the Fairtrade mark prompts you to check the back of the pack. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France explains that mass balance can allow Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa to be mixed.

Check which ingredients are covered and what traceability information is given for the product you’ve chosen.
Treating a tub like a box of ice lollies

The 425 g Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup tub listed by Auchan is made for sharing, not an individual ice lolly. According to its product information, the recipe contains peanuts, milk, egg and soya, among other ingredients.

Before buying for a group, check the ingredients against any allergies you’ve been told about, and make sure you have what you need to serve the tub.
Buying the ice lollies without planning the journey to the office

For an ice-cream break, you’ll need to keep frozen products cold until they’re ready to eat.

ANSES recommends buying frozen products at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag. Make sure there’s a freezer available when you arrive.

Brands and retailers to consider

These examples can help you tell the difference between the mark you’re looking for and the format on offer. Mentioning a brand or retailer doesn’t confirm that it sells a Fairtrade ice lolly.

Ben & Jerry’s

Worth considering if a sharing tub would suit you better than ice lollies: Auchan’s product information for the 425 g Peanut Butter Cup says that Ben & Jerry’s products sold in Europe are Fairtrade Max Havelaar certified.

Auchan’s product information lets you check the exact ingredients in the tub and which ones are covered by the Fairtrade statement.
Peanut Butter Cup comes in a tub, not as an ice lolly. Check its ingredients and allergens before buying for a group.

Magnum

A brand to consider if you’re looking for ice lollies: its French range also includes mini ice lollies.

Its ice lollies and mini formats give you individual options to compare.
Magnum says it uses cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. This certification doesn’t prove that an individual ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark.

Carrefour

A retailer where you can check ice-lolly formats and the information for each box before shopping in store or using its grocery collection service.

Its range of ice lollies lets you find individual products and compare the pack sizes listed.
A search results page won’t confirm that a specific product has the Fairtrade mark or is available at your chosen shop.

Auchan

Auchan’s listing for the 425 g Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup tub is a starting point if you’re looking for a product to share.

The listing includes the ingredients and Fairtrade statement for this product.
This product is a tub of ice cream, not an individual ice lolly. Check the packaging and availability at your chosen shop.

Related products on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether an ice lolly carries the Fairtrade mark?

Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the packaging of the exact product. If there’s a black arrow next to it, Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France advises checking the back for information about the ingredients covered and their traceability.

Is Fairtrade cocoa always kept separate from non-certified cocoa?

No, not necessarily. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France allows mass balance for cocoa, so Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed, while the volumes covered are tracked.

How should I transport ice lollies to the office?

Buy them at the end of your shop, transport them in an insulated bag and put them in a freezer as soon as possible, following ANSES advice on keeping food cold. Then follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen.

What should I check on the packaging if someone in the team has an allergy?

Read the ingredients list for each product and look for highlighted allergens. DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted, so don’t assume one flavour has the same ingredients as another.

Will an ice cream listed in a retailer’s range be available at my local shop?

Not necessarily. Check the exact product with the shop or grocery collection service you plan to use. Also check the pack size and the mark on the packaging of the product you actually choose.