If Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification is your priority, choose an ice lolly with this logo on the packaging and check the details about which ingredients it applies to. A Rainforest Alliance claim does not prove Fairtrade certification. For a birthday party, also check how many sticks are in the pack, the allergens in each recipe and the storage instructions.
If Fairtrade is central to your choice, look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo on the pack. For an ice lolly made with several ingredients, also check the information about the certification on the back of the packaging.
If you’re serving ice lollies to several guests, check how many sticks are in the pack, whether they’re mini or standard size, and which flavours are included, rather than looking only at the total weight.
If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each recipe you’re considering. This information can vary between flavours in an assortment.
For a birthday party, first confirm that the specific product carries the certification you require. Then check that the portion size and ingredients are suitable for how you plan to serve it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of Fairtrade certification | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo on the pack. For an ice lolly made with several ingredients, check the information on the back about which ingredients are covered. Don’t confuse this logo with Rainforest Alliance. | I want to be able to identify the Fairtrade certification on the product I’m serving, rather than relying simply on the presence of chocolate or another logo. Around 40% of consumers would put this at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Number of portions | Check how many sticks are included, whether they’re mini or standard size, and which flavours are in the pack. | To serve every guest without relying on the pack’s weight alone, I need a suitable number of individual portions. This would be a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and storage | Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each recipe, as well as the temperature and storage instructions on the pack. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to choose their ice lollies separately and store them as instructed. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise these considerations. |
Magnum France says it sources cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, and uses mass balance for its cocoa. This does not prove that a Magnum ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label.
If Fairtrade is essential to you, look for its logo on the box of the specific product you’ve chosen and read the accompanying details.
The total weight doesn’t tell you how many ice lollies you’ll be able to serve at your party.
Work out how many portions you need, then compare the number of sticks and the flavours in each pack.
Ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings can vary between flavours. France’s Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that allergens must be clearly highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed food.
Read the label for each recipe and keep the packaging to hand while serving.
Auchan’s product page for a pack of Magnum mini sticks states that they should be stored at −18 °C and that a defrosted product must not be refrozen. Check the instructions for the specific product you’re buying.
Plan how you’ll transport and store them in the freezer according to these instructions, so the ice lollies aren’t left waiting while you get the party ready.
A brand offering chocolate-coated sticks and mini versions.
A retailer with a range of ice lolly sticks from different brands, as well as Carrefour own-brand products.
A retailer offering ice lolly sticks and mini sticks, including Magnum products.
A retailer to check by looking directly at the information on each box.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar logo on the packaging of the specific product. Fairtrade/Max Havelaar France says its certification also applies to products made with several ingredients, such as ice cream. Check the details on the back of the pack to see which ingredients are covered.
A Rainforest Alliance claim alone isn’t enough to establish that a Magnum ice lolly is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certified. Magnum France describes its approach to sourcing cocoa and vanilla; if you require Fairtrade certification, check for its logo on the product you’re buying.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each recipe, as these can vary between flavours. For pre-packed food in France, the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that allergens must be clearly highlighted in the ingredients list.
Follow the temperature and instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For example, an Auchan product page for Magnum mini sticks states that they should be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen after defrosting.