Who is this choice for?

For those who put Fairtrade proof first

You want to serve chocolate ice lollies at Christmas and be able to identify the Fairtrade certification on the box you buy, rather than relying on a general promise from the brand.

For those who put individual portions first

You’re looking for desserts to hand out after a meal. A lolly, ice cream bites and a tub are served in different ways, even when a brand talks about Fairtrade ingredients.

For those who put the recipe first

You need to take allergens into account or are looking for a plant-based recipe. Check these details for the specific product: they don’t follow from whether or not it carries a Fairtrade label.

What should you check?

When choosing ice lollies to serve at Christmas, start with what matters most to you: visible certification on the product, a format that’s easy to hand out, or a recipe that suits your guests. Then check the other details on the same box. Don’t assume a product is labelled just because it belongs to a particular range or is part of a brand initiative.

Criterion What to check Who is it most important to?
Fairtrade proof Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the box. If it includes an arrow, Max Havelaar France advises checking the back for details of the ingredients concerned and the type of traceability used. If you want to serve a dessert whose Fairtrade certification you can verify, a general statement about the cocoa won’t be enough. Around 50% of consumers would make this their top priority.
Serving format Check for the words “lollies” or “ice lollies” and the number of pieces. Don’t confuse this format with bites or a tub. After a festive meal, you may want to give each guest an individual portion rather than serve ice cream from a tub. An individual format would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Recipe and allergens Read the ingredients and any highlighted allergens for the exact product. Check separately for any plant-based recipe claims. If the recipe needs to suit your guests, check the ingredients before choosing a flavour or format. This would be the top priority for roughly 20% of consumers.

The label on a composite ice cream product doesn’t necessarily mean that every ingredient is certified. Max Havelaar France distinguishes between ingredients available as Fairtrade and, depending on the logo used, directs shoppers to details on the back of the packaging. An online product listing can help you identify a format before you shop. To make your final choice, compare it with the product actually available and the information on its box.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Confusing a brand initiative with a label on the lolly

    An initiative involving cocoa producers doesn’t prove that the ice lolly you buy carries Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification. For example, Magnum has its AWA by Magnum initiative, which is separate from certification proof for a specific product.

    If Fairtrade is your deciding factor, look for the label on the box of the product you’ve chosen and read the details alongside it.

  • Assuming every ingredient is certified

    For a composite ice cream product, Fairtrade certification may apply to ingredients available through the scheme, without automatically covering every component of the recipe.

    If the logo has an arrow, check the back of the box for the ingredients concerned and the traceability information provided by Max Havelaar France.

  • Confusing lollies, bites and tubs

    Fairtrade information relating to a brand or a tub of ice cream doesn’t establish the format or certification of a lolly from that brand.

    If you want an individual dessert for each guest, check the product name and number of pieces before planning how to serve it.

  • Guessing allergens from the flavour or a plant-based claim

    Ingredients vary from one recipe to another. For example, a product described as plant-based may contain wheat or soya: Carrefour’s listing for a plant-based Ben & Jerry's tub includes these ingredients.

    Before serving someone with an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, taking their needs into account.

Brands and retailer to know for this choice

These pointers help you distinguish between information about a brand, a format and a specific product. They aren’t a list of Fairtrade-certified ice lollies available in shops.

Ben & Jerry's

The brand explains its Fairtrade approach and offers ice cream bites and tub recipes, among other products.

  • According to Ben & Jerry's France, its flavours use Fairtrade-certified ingredients. A Carrefour listing for a tub sold in Europe explains that Fairtrade sugar, cocoa and vanilla are mixed with non-certified ingredients under the mass balance system.
  • If you’re looking for ice lollies, check that the information you’re looking for appears on the specific lolly product itself. A listing for a tub isn’t enough.

Magnum

The brand is worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate-coated ice lolly.

  • Magnum presents a range of ice creams and describes AWA by Magnum as an initiative supporting women in cocoa-producing communities in Côte d’Ivoire.
  • This initiative doesn’t prove that a specific lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label. If the label is essential to your choice, check the box of the product you’re considering.

Carrefour

The retailer provides ice cream listings that can help you check the format and some details about the ingredients.

  • A Carrefour listing for a Ben & Jerry's tub describes the Fairtrade certification of some ingredients and explains the use of mass balance.
  • This example is for a tub, not an ice lolly. When you shop, check the product and format available from your chosen shop or service.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can you identify a Fairtrade/Max Havelaar ice lolly?

Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the box of the ice lolly in question. If the logo has an arrow, Max Havelaar France advises checking the back of the packaging for details of the ingredients concerned and the type of traceability used.

Is a brand’s commitment to cocoa enough?

No. A programme supporting cocoa-producing communities doesn’t, on its own, prove that an ice lolly is Fairtrade-certified. If certification is one of the reasons you’re buying it, check the label and its details on the product you’ve chosen.

Does Fairtrade ice cream contain only certified ingredients?

Not necessarily. According to Max Havelaar France, for a composite product the scheme may apply to ingredients available as Fairtrade. On its listing for a Ben & Jerry's tub sold in Europe, Carrefour explains that Fairtrade sugar, cocoa and vanilla are mixed with non-certified ingredients under the mass balance system. Read the information on the box you’re buying.

What should you check if a guest has an allergy?

Before serving the product, check the ingredients list and any highlighted allergens for the exact product. The European Commission states that allergens used as ingredients must be declared on prepacked foods sold in the European Union. Don’t guess the ingredients from a flavour, a Fairtrade label or a plant-based claim.

Is an online listing enough to plan your Christmas shopping?

It can help you identify a product, but check what’s actually available from your local shop or online grocery service. Confirm the format, ingredients and allergens, as well as the certification information on the packaging if you’re looking for Fairtrade. Also follow the storage instructions on the pack.