If Fairtrade certification is your deciding factor when choosing chocolate ice lollies to serve at Christmas, look for a box bearing the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label and check the back to see which ingredients it covers. Max Havelaar France explains that the label can apply to composite ice creams. Another commitment to cocoa, such as Magnum’s Rainforest Alliance approach, does not prove that an ice lolly carries the Fairtrade label.
For your Christmas appetiser, you want to be able to spot the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the box and check which ingredients it covers. A brand name or general statement about cocoa is no substitute for checking the packaging.
You’re looking for individual ice lolly sticks or mini portions to hand out to your guests. Compare the number of pieces and the weight shown on the box, without assuming that your chosen format carries the label you’re looking for.
The exact recipe matters just as much as the format or label. Carrefour’s product information for ice lolly sticks lists milk, including lactose and milk proteins, as well as soya or almonds, depending on the product. Check the packaging of the box you’ll be serving.
Start with the factor you’re not willing to compromise on: proof of Fairtrade certification, ease of serving or ingredients that suit your guests. Then check the other details on the specific product you plan to buy.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade proof | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the box, then check which ingredients it covers and what traceability information is given on the back. | If I want to serve Fairtrade-certified ice lollies, another commitment to cocoa isn’t enough for me; around 50% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Serving format | Compare the number of ice lolly sticks in each box and the weight or volume per piece, where stated. | If I want to hand a portion to each guest easily, I need to choose boxes that suit the group; around 30% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, listed allergens and precautionary statements for the exact recipe. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I check the box that will actually be served; this would be the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Magnum describes sourcing cocoa certified by Rainforest Alliance through a mass balance system. This statement does not confirm that a specific Magnum ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label.
If Fairtrade is essential to your choice, look for its label on the box of the product you’re buying.
For composite ice creams, Max Havelaar France says that certification applies to the ingredients available under the label’s rules, and not necessarily to every ingredient in the recipe.
Check the back of the packaging to see which ingredients are covered and what traceability information applies.
Chocolate ice lolly sticks sold by Carrefour list milk and, depending on the recipe, soya or almonds. Another flavour from the same brand may have different ingredients.
Check the packaging of each product and keep the box where your guests can see it.
The ice lolly stick formats sold by Carrefour don’t all contain the same number of pieces.
Check the number of sticks and the stated weight before deciding how many boxes to serve.
Magnum offers chocolate-covered ice lolly sticks and outlines its approach to cocoa sourcing on its French website.
The retailer offers ice lolly sticks from its own-brand range and other brands, with different formats and recipes.
Max Havelaar France lists Aldi among the retailers where you can look for Fairtrade products.
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar label on the box. Max Havelaar France explains that composite ice creams can carry this label; check the back to see which ingredients are covered and what traceability information applies.
No. The Rainforest Alliance statement doesn’t prove Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification. Magnum describes its cocoa as Rainforest Alliance-certified under a mass balance system. If you require Fairtrade, check for this label on the specific product’s box.
Check the ingredients and allergens for every product you serve. Carrefour product listings include milk, particularly lactose and milk proteins, as well as soya or almonds, depending on the recipe. Don’t assume that one flavour has the same ingredients as another.
Max Havelaar France says that Fairtrade-labelled ice cream is available in France and lists Aldi among the retailers offering Fairtrade products. This doesn’t guarantee that a store stocks labelled ice lollies, so ask which products are available and check their packaging.