Which parents might find this choice useful?

Parents with a suitable way to keep it cold

You can check how the ice lolly will stay cold during the journey and at school, until your child is ready to eat it. This is the first thing to consider before choosing a recipe or label.

Parents who want to know what the Fairtrade label covers

You want to see the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the product you buy and understand which ingredients it applies to. For an ice cream made with several ingredients, Fairtrade/Max Havelaar advises checking the details on the back of the pack.

Families who need to check for allergens

You need to check the exact recipe, particularly for milk. Depending on the product, other ingredients or warnings may also relate to wheat, egg, soya or nuts.

What should you check before buying?

First, make sure the school can keep it cold: if it can’t stay cold until it’s eaten, an ice lolly isn’t a suitable choice for a lunchbox. Then check the certification on the product and its allergen information.

Criteria What to check Who this matters to
Keeping it cold Check how it will be transported, stored at school and kept cold until it’s eaten; don’t rely on the lunchbox’s insulation alone. If the dessert has to wait until lunchtime, I want to know how it will stay cold until then. Around 38% of consumers put this ability to keep it cold ahead of other criteria.
Fairtrade certification Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the product and read which ingredients it covers, along with any mass-balance statement. I’m looking for a Fairtrade claim whose scope I can understand, rather than assuming it from the brand or the chocolate. Around 31% of consumers put this proof of certification first.
Recipe allergens Check the highlighted ingredients and any “may contain” warnings on the pack you buy. If an ingredient needs to be avoided, I have to check the exact recipe, even if I already know the brand. This check is a priority for around 31% of consumers.

What mistakes should you avoid?

  • Confusing different cocoa certifications

    According to Magnum France, the Double Chocolat ice lolly carries a statement that its certified Rainforest Alliance cocoa is blended with non-certified cocoa under a mass-balance approach. This does not prove Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification.

    If Fairtrade is important to you, look for its label on the product you choose and read the accompanying statement.

  • Choosing an ice lolly before checking how it will be kept cold

    An insulated lunchbox alone cannot guarantee that the product will stay cold until it’s eaten. Anses recommends maintaining the cold chain.

    Check the arrangements for transport, storage at school and lunchtime. If it can’t be kept cold, choose a non-frozen dessert instead and check its ingredients separately.

  • Assuming all ice cream has the same allergens

    Recipes vary: Carrefour’s listing for the Ben & Jerry’s Fan Favourites box includes cream, milk, wheat, egg and soya, among other ingredients.

    Check the packaging of the product you buy, even if you’re switching flavour or pack size.

Brands and retailers to look at

These examples help you understand the claims made about specific products; they are not a list of Fairtrade ice lollies suitable for every lunchbox.

Ben & Jerry’s

The brand provides details of Fairtrade ingredients in some of its ice creams, but check the specific product and format before considering it for a lunchbox.

  • Ben & Jerry’s France states that the sugar, cocoa and vanilla in Chocolate Fudge Brownie Non-Dairy are Fairtrade under a mass-balance approach, accounting for 47% of the total weight excluding water.
  • This information relates to a tub of ice cream, not an ice lolly. Don’t assume its ingredients and allergens apply to another recipe from the brand.

Magnum

The Double Chocolat ice lolly is a useful example of the difference between a Rainforest Alliance claim and the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar standard.

  • Magnum France describes Double Chocolat as an 85 ml ice lolly and specifies the certification claim made about its cocoa.
  • This Rainforest Alliance claim, which uses a mass-balance approach, does not prove that the ice lolly is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar-certified.

Carrefour

The retailer sells a range of ice creams. Check certification and allergens for each product rather than relying on the retailer’s name.

  • A Carrefour listing for the Ben & Jerry’s Fan Favourites box gives details about Fairtrade ingredients and the contents of that box.
  • This listing is for a box of tubs of ice cream; it doesn’t prove that ice lollies sold by Carrefour carry the same label.

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Frequently asked questions

Can an ice lolly stay in a lunchbox all morning?

Not unless you have a way to keep it cold until it’s eaten. Anses stresses the importance of maintaining the cold chain, so check the school’s arrangements for transport and storage before buying frozen food for lunch.

Does a Fairtrade claim mean that every ingredient in the ice cream is certified?

Not necessarily: what the claim covers depends on the product. For an ice cream made with several ingredients, Fairtrade/Max Havelaar directs shoppers to the details on the packaging, including which ingredients are covered and how they are traced. Read them before assuming the certification applies to the whole recipe.

Which allergens should you check in a chocolate ice lolly?

Check the allergen information on the packaging of the ice lolly you choose rather than assuming it’s the same across different recipes. Milk is particularly relevant here; depending on the product, you should also check for information about wheat, egg, soya or nuts.

Is “Non-Dairy” enough to choose an ice cream if you need to avoid certain ingredients?

No. It doesn’t replace checking the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product. The Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Non-Dairy tub mentioned here contains oats, wheat, barley and soya, among other ingredients. Don’t assume it is like every ice lolly or every recipe without dairy ingredients.