When choosing a chocolate-coated ice lolly with Fairtrade as a priority as part of diabetes-conscious shopping, check which ingredients the label covers, then compare the carbohydrates, including sugars, for the portion you plan to eat. The label tells you nothing about nutritional content: the Ben & Jerry's mini tubs featured by Auchan contain Fairtrade ingredients, but they are not ice lollies, while the Rainforest Alliance claim on the Magnum Mini Mint x6 does not prove Fairtrade certification. For a specific ice lolly, the packaging for that exact product is what matters.
You want to check the nutritional values against the amount you’ll actually eat, without treating a Fairtrade label as a nutritional claim. Assurance Maladie advises that food quantities should be tailored to each person’s circumstances.
You’re looking for a specific claim about cocoa, sugar or vanilla. For an ice cream made with several ingredients, Fairtrade Max Havelaar France recognises different sourcing models, so check which ingredients the claim covers on the product you choose.
You’re set on an ice lolly or chocolate-coated lolly. Before choosing a flavour, you also want to tell the different certifications apart and check the allergens and nutritional information for that recipe.
For a chocolate-coated ice lolly, check ingredient certification and nutritional values separately, then work out the values for the amount you plan to eat.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Compare carbohydrates, including sugars, per 100 g and then for the portion you plan to eat; check the fat content too. | If I’m planning to eat one lolly, I want to know the values for that serving, not just per 100 g. Around 42% of shoppers prioritise nutritional information and portion size. |
| What the Fairtrade claim covers | Read the logo and accompanying text: check which ingredients are covered and whether there’s a mass balance claim. | I want to know whether the cocoa or sugar in the product is identified as Fairtrade, without assuming that the whole recipe is. This is the first thing around 33% of shoppers look for. |
| Format and ingredients | Check the format, the weight of one item and the allergens on the pack for your chosen flavour. | When I’m shopping, I first look for a lolly whose ingredients and allergens I can check before buying. Around 25% of shoppers put format and this information first. |
Fairtrade relates to how ingredients are sourced, not the carbohydrates or sugars in a portion of ice cream. Assurance Maladie recommends considering the ingredients and the quantities you eat.
Check what the label covers, then look at the nutritional values for the specific product separately.
Magnum states that the cocoa in its Mini Mint x6 is Rainforest Alliance certified; Auchan says that the Ben & Jerry's mini tub multipack contains Fairtrade ingredients. These claims refer to different certifications.
If Fairtrade is your priority, look for that specific claim on the product you’re buying.
This makes it easier to compare two products, but it may not reflect how much you’ll eat: one lolly and one mini tub can be different portion sizes.
Check the values per portion where they’re shown on the packaging, or use the per 100 g values to calculate them for the amount you plan to eat.
The Magnum Mini Mint x6 featured by the brand contains milk and carries a ‘may contain almonds’ warning. Check the ingredients list and warnings for each recipe.
Check the allergens on the exact pack, even if you already know another ice cream in the range.
The four-mini-tub multipack featured by Auchan gives you the chance to check a Fairtrade claim covering specific ingredients.
The Mini Mint x6 is a chocolate-coated ice lolly worth considering if format is important to you.
Carrefour’s ice cream range includes lollies from various lines, including Carrefour Classic' and Carrefour Sensation, which you can compare based on the format you’re looking for.
No. Fairtrade tells you about sourcing, not the nutritional content of a portion. To compare ice creams, check the carbohydrates, including sugars, and work out the values for the amount you plan to eat. Assurance Maladie advises that quantities should be tailored to each person’s circumstances.
Read this claim alongside the list of ingredients it applies to, and don’t assume that every ingredient in the ice cream is certified. On the Ben & Jerry's mini-tub multipack featured by Auchan, it applies to the sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Fairtrade Max Havelaar France explains that products made with several ingredients can use different sourcing models.
No, they are separate certifications. Magnum states that the cocoa in its Mini Mint x6 is Rainforest Alliance certified. If Fairtrade is your priority, check that the product you choose carries that specific claim.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information, then check the carbohydrates, including sugars, and other nutritional values against the amount in one lolly. Also check the wording alongside any certification shown: this tells you which ingredients are covered.