Who is this option for?

Parents making ice lollies at home

You’d like to choose the ice cream, coating chocolate and decorations separately. Ethiquable has published a recipe for chocolate-coated ice lollies; check that the chocolate you buy carries a fair trade claim.

Workshop leaders catering for dietary requirements

You need to check the ingredients in every component before serving. In a school setting, the French Ministry of National Education says that an individual support plan (PAI) can set out specific arrangements for a pupil with a food allergy.

Families who prefer ready-made ice cream

You can serve ice cream from a tub instead of individual ice lollies. Ben & Jerry’s says it uses Fairtrade ingredients; choose a product based on its format and ingredient list, as these vary from one flavour to another.

What should you check before the workshop?

Homemade ice lollies

Consider this: if you want to choose the coating chocolate and make preparing the lollies an activity for the children.

Plan for: equipment, preparation and time in the freezer. The Ethiquable milk chocolate bar featured by Carrefour contains milk, even though its ingredients are stated to come from fair trade sources.

Fairtrade ice cream in a tub

Consider this: if serving scoops is suitable instead of offering ice lollies on sticks. Carrefour states that Ben & Jerry’s tubs sold in Europe carry Fairtrade Max Havelaar certification for their sugar, cocoa and vanilla.

Bear in mind: a tub isn’t an ice lolly; certified ingredients are mixed with others under the mass balance approach stated by Carrefour. Allergens vary by flavour.

Ready-to-serve ice lollies

Consider this: if individual portions matter more than the Fairtrade requirement. Carrefour lists Magnum Classic in a box of four 100 mL ice creams on sticks.

Keep in mind: Magnum says its cocoa comes from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms, which does not mean its ice creams on sticks are Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certified. Carrefour’s listing for Classic includes dairy ingredients.

Criterion What to check Who it matters to
Fairtrade proof Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar claim on the specific product and check which ingredients it applies to. Don’t confuse it with another label. If fair trade is my top priority, I want to know exactly what is certified before choosing a format; around 37% of consumers would put this proof first.
Allergens Read the ingredients for the ice cream, chocolate and decorations; for a child with an allergy, follow the arrangements in their PAI. When a child has dietary requirements, I need to be able to check the whole recipe before serving it; this precaution would be a priority for around 36% of consumers.
Workshop format Choose between portions that are ready to serve and making them yourself, which requires equipment and time in the freezer. To involve the children in making individual portions, I’m happy to organise the preparation in advance; around 18% of consumers would prioritise this aspect.
Speed of serving Check whether a tub will do or whether you need ice lollies on sticks, without assuming they are certified. When I’m short of time before a snack, I prefer ice cream that’s ready to serve, even if that means changing the format; speed would come first for around 9% of consumers.

Common misconceptions to avoid

  • Thinking Rainforest Alliance means Fairtrade

    Magnum says it uses cocoa from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. This does not prove that the ice cream on a stick is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certified.

    If Fairtrade is essential, look for the claim on the specific product rather than relying on another label or the brand name.

  • Assuming fair trade means allergen-free

    Fair trade certification doesn’t tell you about allergens. Carrefour’s listings for some ice creams and a fair trade milk chocolate mention milk; other ingredients vary by recipe.

    Check every component, including the coating and decorations. In a school setting, follow the arrangements in the child’s PAI before serving.

  • Confusing ice cream in a tub with ready-to-serve ice lollies

    A tub of Ben & Jerry’s with a Fairtrade claim for certain ingredients doesn’t, by itself, provide individual ice lollies on sticks.

    Decide before you buy whether serving from a tub will work. If both the ice lolly format and Fairtrade certification are essential, check for both on the same product.

Brands to know for this choice

Ben & Jerry’s

Ice cream in tubs: Ben & Jerry’s says its flavours use Fairtrade-certified ingredients. Carrefour specifies that, for the brand’s products sold in Europe, the Fairtrade Max Havelaar claim covers sugar, cocoa and vanilla under a mass balance approach.

  • Worth considering if a tub suits your activity and the scope of the Fairtrade claim meets your needs.
  • This format isn’t an ice lolly; depending on the flavours listed by Carrefour, the recipe may contain milk, wheat, egg, soya or nuts.

Magnum

Individual ice creams on sticks, including Magnum Classic, listed by Carrefour in a box of four 100 mL ice creams on sticks.

  • A ready-portioned option if you don’t want to make ice lollies on site.
  • Magnum says its cocoa is Rainforest Alliance-certified, which is different from Fairtrade/Max Havelaar. Carrefour’s listing for Classic includes dairy ingredients.

Ethiquable

Chocolate for making a homemade coating: Carrefour lists an Ethiquable milk chocolate bar whose ingredients are stated to come from organic farming and fair trade sources. The brand has also published a recipe for a chocolate-coated ice lolly.

  • Lets you choose the chocolate separately when making ice lollies at home.
  • The milk chocolate bar featured contains milk; a chocolate bar isn’t a ready-to-serve ice lolly.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can you check whether an ingredient for an ice lolly is Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar claim on the exact product and check which ingredients it covers. Max Havelaar France describes its label as covering social, economic and environmental criteria; another label is not equivalent proof for this purchasing requirement.

Is ice cream with Fairtrade ingredients suitable for a child with a milk allergy?

The Fairtrade claim doesn’t guarantee that a product is milk-free. Carrefour’s listings for some Ben & Jerry’s tubs mention milk and, depending on the flavour, other allergens too. Check the product you’ve chosen and every ingredient you add.

What should you plan for a workshop in a school setting?

Check the ingredients in every component and the arrangements for children with a PAI before serving. The French Ministry of National Education says that such a plan can organise support for a pupil with a food allergy.

Can you use ice cream in a tub instead of homemade ice lollies?

Yes, if serving portions of ice cream instead of ice lollies on sticks works for your activity. Carrefour lists Ben & Jerry’s tubs with a Fairtrade Max Havelaar claim covering the sugar, cocoa and vanilla in products sold in Europe; also check the allergens in the flavour you choose.

Do Magnum ice creams on sticks meet a Fairtrade requirement?

Magnum’s statement that its cocoa is Rainforest Alliance-certified isn’t enough to establish that its ice creams on sticks are Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certified. If this certification is essential, check that it is explicitly stated for the product you’re considering.