If Fairtrade is essential for your chocolate ice lolly, choose one with the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the packaging. If there’s an arrow alongside the logo, read the information on the back about certified ingredients and their traceability. Another certification or a general brand statement isn’t a substitute for this check. If you’re popping out to pick one up, also make sure it meets your dietary requirements and is available in the shop where you plan to buy it.
You’re looking for an ice lolly to take away and want to be able to check its Fairtrade credentials on the packaging. Max Havelaar France recommends checking the back of a product when there’s an arrow alongside the mark.
You’d be happy with an ice cream tub if it carries the Fairtrade information you’re looking for. Ben & Jerry’s France’s statements about its ingredients don’t remove the need to check the packaging of the flavour you choose.
You need to check the allergens or ingredients before buying, then think about the journey home to the freezer. The Fairtrade mark doesn’t replace checking the label or following storage instructions.
If you’re picking one up while you’re out, first check the mark on the product you’re buying, then its format, ingredients and how you’ll transport it.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade proof | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the packaging. If there’s an arrow alongside it, read the information on the back. | I want to confirm the Fairtrade credentials of the ice lolly I’m buying, rather than relying on the brand alone; around 50% of shoppers put this first. |
| Availability and format | Check that the product is available in the shop and that it’s an ice lolly. | If I need to buy an ice cream straight away, I want to know whether I can stick with an ice lolly or would be happy with a tub instead; this is the top priority for around 30% of shoppers. |
| Ingredients and storage | Read the ingredients list and check which allergens are highlighted. Follow the storage instructions on the way home. | Before choosing, I need to make sure the ingredients are suitable for me and that I can get the ice cream home to the freezer; around 20% of shoppers prioritise these checks. |
Magnum says its cocoa and vanilla come from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. This doesn’t prove that the ice lolly you choose carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark.
If Fairtrade is a must-have, look for its logo on the product packaging and check the back if there’s an arrow alongside the mark.
Ben & Jerry’s France says its ice creams contain Fairtrade ingredients, but a statement about the brand doesn’t tell you whether a particular ice lolly is right for your purchase.
Check the format and the product’s labelling in store. Only choose a tub instead of an ice lolly if you’re happy to switch.
A Fairtrade mark doesn’t tell you which allergens the product contains. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
Read the ingredients and storage instructions before buying. Get the ice cream back to the freezer promptly, and don’t refreeze a product that has defrosted.
Worth looking into if you’d consider an ice cream tub instead of an ice lolly.
An ice lolly brand whose stated approach to cocoa and vanilla should be distinguished from the Fairtrade criterion.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. Max Havelaar France explains that if there’s an arrow alongside the logo, you should read the information on the back. This can help you identify certified ingredients in products made with several ingredients.
The Rainforest Alliance certification Magnum mentions for its cocoa and vanilla isn’t, by itself, proof of Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification. If Fairtrade is essential to you, check that the mark appears on the packaging of the specific ice lolly you’re thinking of buying.
Read the ingredients list and look for highlighted allergens before choosing an ice cream. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that this is a labelling requirement; the Fairtrade mark doesn’t replace this information.
Follow the instructions on the packaging and get the ice cream back to the freezer promptly. The Ministry of Agriculture recommends setting your freezer to −18 °C; don’t refreeze ice cream that has defrosted.
You could try other shops or consider an ice cream tub if you’re happy with that format, but always check the mark on the product you find. Max Havelaar France names Aldi, and occasionally Carrefour and E.Leclerc, among retailers that sell Fairtrade products in general. That doesn’t guarantee that a particular ice cream will be available in your shop.