If the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label is essential, check that it appears on the exact ice cream you plan to serve. Carrefour’s listings for two Ben & Jerry’s tubs mention the label, but these products aren’t ice lollies on sticks. For a children’s party, you’ll also need to consider the allergens in each recipe, any guidance provided for the children, and whether you can serve portions while keeping the ice cream cold.
You want to see Fairtrade/Max Havelaar on the listing or packaging of the ice cream you serve, rather than relying on a brand’s or retailer’s general commitment. Also check which ingredients the label applies to.
If a child has a food allergy or an individual care plan (PAI), check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements for the specific flavour, then follow the guidance provided for that child.
Ice lollies can be handed out individually, while a tub requires bowls and spoons. If you choose an ice lolly for convenience, check separately whether it carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label.
For a birthday party, first check any guidance for the children attending and the Fairtrade label on the exact product you’re considering. Then think about the number of portions and how the ice cream will be stored.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label | Look for Fairtrade/Max Havelaar on the exact product and check which ingredients it applies to. The Rainforest Alliance label is different. | If I want to serve ice cream with a specific Fairtrade label, a brand’s general commitment isn’t enough; around 40% of consumers would put this product-level proof at the top of their list of criteria. |
| Allergens and guidance | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements for the flavour you’ve chosen. Follow the family’s guidance and, where relevant, the child’s PAI. | If a child attending has dietary requirements, I need to be able to work out whether the recipe and the way it’s served are suitable; this would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Format and storage | Compare ice lollies, mini tubs and sharing tubs based on the portions you need. Check the storage instructions and local availability. | If I need to hand out ice creams quickly, the number of portions and keeping them cold will guide my choice; around 20% of consumers would put this first. |
Magnum says that its cocoa and vanilla come from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. Carrefour’s listings for the Ben & Jerry’s tubs mentioned here, on the other hand, refer to Fairtrade. The labels aren’t interchangeable.
Decide which label you’re looking for, then check that it appears on the exact product you plan to buy.
The Ben & Jerry’s tubs listed here carry a Fairtrade label, but they aren’t packaged as individual ice lollies.
If you choose an ice lolly, check its own packaging. If you choose a tub, make sure you have bowls and spoons.
Carrefour’s listing for Chocolate Brownie Vegan includes oats, wheat, barley and soya, among other ingredients. A plant-based recipe isn’t automatically suitable for every child.
Read the ingredients for the flavour you buy and follow any dietary guidance provided for the children concerned.
A range shown by a retailer doesn’t guarantee that it’ll be available at the store where you’re shopping. Auchan’s listing for the Cookie Dough tub says to store it at −18 °C.
Confirm which product is available, count the portions you need, and plan how you’ll transport and store it before serving.
Carrefour’s listings for Cookie Dough and Chocolate Brownie Vegan refer to Fairtrade ingredients under the mass balance approach.
Magnum offers ice lollies on sticks and describes its cocoa and vanilla sourcing as Rainforest Alliance-certified.
Carrefour offers ice lollies in its ice cream range and details the Fairtrade label on its listings for the two Ben & Jerry’s tubs mentioned here.
E.Leclerc’s catalogue includes an assortment of ice lollies, which is useful for comparing serving formats.
Auchan’s listing for the Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough tub shows the Fairtrade label and provides storage information.
Lidl highlights Fairtrade/Max Havelaar products across its wider range.
Aldi’s catalogue features mini ice lollies and a Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough tub.
These two Cookie Dough options are tubs, not ice lollies on sticks. The pack of mini tubs gives you separate portions, while the larger tub needs to be served into bowls. For each product, check the Fairtrade label, ingredients and allergens on the exact item you buy before the party.
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Consider this option if you want to serve individual portions without dishing out a large tub. Check the ingredients on the exact product and any guidance that applies to the children attending.
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Consider this option if you can serve the ice cream in bowls at the party. Plan how you’ll serve it and check the ingredients on the exact product before offering it to the children.
The Rainforest Alliance label doesn’t prove that an ice lolly also carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label. Magnum says its cocoa and vanilla come from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. If Fairtrade is what you’re looking for, check for that label on the specific product.
No. Carrefour’s listings for Cookie Dough and Chocolate Brownie Vegan say that the Fairtrade sugar, cocoa and vanilla are mixed with non-certified ingredients under the mass balance approach. The Cookie Dough listing states that the ingredients concerned make up 65% of the weight, excluding water and dairy products; the Chocolate Brownie Vegan listing states 47% of the weight, excluding water.
No. Carrefour’s listing for Chocolate Brownie Vegan doesn’t list milk, but it does mention oats, wheat, barley and soya, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the product you buy against the guidance for that child.
Ask in advance what guidance applies to the child and the party venue, then choose the product and serving arrangements accordingly. The French Ministry of National Education says that an individual care plan can include adjustments related, in particular, to the diet of a pupil with a food allergy.
Check that it’s available at the store or through the service you plan to use before deciding how many portions to buy. Check the packaging of the product you get too: the format, the label you’re looking for and the allergen information should all match what you need.