Travellers eating after security
You’d rather buy a frozen dessert at the airport and eat it straight away than bring one from home. The key is being able to keep it cold until you’re ready to eat it.
Who is this option for?
Travellers looking for a small portion
You’re after a mini ice lolly to round off your meal. It’s still a frozen product, so you’ll need to keep it in the freezer until you’re ready to eat it.
Travellers who need to check allergens
You need to read the label for the exact product before buying. Recipes and multipacks vary, particularly when it comes to milk, soya and nuts.
What should you check before buying?
First, decide where the ice lolly will stay frozen and when you’ll eat it. Then compare the portion size of each lolly and, if necessary, the ingredients in each product.
| Priority | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it cold | Plan to keep it in a freezer until you leave, or buy it and eat it straight away. For a short journey, Anses recommends using an insulated bag and keeping transport time to a minimum. | If I leave home with an ice lolly, I need to stop it melting during the journey and while I wait; around 39% of consumers rank this as a priority. |
| Portion size | Compare the amount in each lolly and the number of lollies in the box. For example, Magnum France lists minis at 55 ml, while Carrefour France lists minis at 32 g. | If I want a small portion to finish my meal, I want to be able to take out just one lolly when I’m ready to eat it; around 38% of consumers rank this as a priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the product you’ve chosen, including any warnings about possible traces if you need to avoid an allergen. | If I’m choosing a multipack, I need to check each recipe first; around 23% of consumers make this their priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Buying a box several hours before you get to the airport
An individual portion is still a frozen product. Anses recommends keeping transport time and the time frozen food spends at room temperature to a minimum.
Keep the box in the freezer until the last possible moment and eat the lolly soon after taking it out. If you can’t keep it cold, choose a non-frozen dessert for the journey.
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Assuming a mini ice lolly will definitely get through security
The product’s small size doesn’t determine which security rules apply when taking it into the cabin.
Before relying on an ice lolly bought before security, check with your departure airport and airline to find out what rules apply to frozen food.
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Choosing a multipack without checking the allergens
Products in the same box may have different ingredients. Carrefour Extra’s mini ice lolly assortment, for example, lists milk, soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of other allergens.
Check the packaging on the box you’re buying rather than relying only on the brand or the flavour shown on the front.
Brands to know
Magnum
Magnum France offers ice lollies, including a box of 6 × 55 ml Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate lollies.
- The mini size lets you choose an individual portion from this assortment.
- The brand recommends waiting a few minutes after taking one out of the freezer before eating it; this doesn’t solve the problem of keeping it cold on a longer journey.
Carrefour Extra
Carrefour France offers an assortment of eight mini ice lollies, each weighing 32 g.
- The weight of each lolly helps you gauge the portion size before buying.
- The assortment lists milk, soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of other allergens. Check the label on the product you buy.
MUCCI
MUCCI is an ice cream and sorbet brand from ALDI France, which offers, among other things, a box of four double-coated ice lollies.
- This product comes as individual ice lollies, which should be kept frozen until you’re ready to eat them.
- Check which product and flavours are available at the store where you plan to shop.
Bon Gelati
Bon Gelati is an ice cream brand sold by Lidl France.
- You can browse the brand’s range while doing your shopping.
- Before choosing a box for your journey, check the portion size, allergens and storage instructions for the product you’ve selected.
E.Leclerc DRIVE
E.Leclerc DRIVE is a grocery collection and delivery service, not an ice lolly brand.
- The retailer says it is committed to maintaining the cold chain for groceries.
- If you’re buying a frozen dessert for your journey, check the product you’ve chosen and plan how to keep it cold after collection.
Individual frozen desserts
These boxes contain individually portioned frozen desserts. They’re suitable for this meal only if you can keep them frozen until you’re ready to eat them straight away; don’t assume they’ll be available at an airport shop.
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Binggrae Melona Melon Ice Bar, 8 × 70 ml
Take one out of the freezer for a dessert to enjoy straight away; the box contains eight 70 ml portions.
The product description lists milk and includes a warning about the E102 colourant for children. Check the label before buying.
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CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry Ice Pops, 12 pieces, 444 g
Enjoy the 12 portions individually after taking them out of the freezer; the box is listed as weighing 444 g.
The product description warns that it may contain traces of gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and nuts. Check the label if you need to avoid any of these allergens.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Coconut, 4 pieces, 280 g
These four sorbet ice lollies let you take one portion out of the freezer when it’s time for dessert.
The product information says it is not suitable for children under 36 months and that the factory handles milk, soya, nuts and sulphites, among other allergens. Read the label if these warnings apply to you.
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Magnum Double Utopia Hazelnut Mini, 6 pieces
The mini size lets you choose one lolly from the box of six, as long as you keep the remaining ones frozen.
The product description lists gluten, milk, nuts, sesame and soya, among other ingredients. Check the label before choosing this assortment.
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Solero Exotic, 4 frozen ice lollies, 90 ml each
Each 90 ml ice lolly is a portion to eat soon after taking it out of the freezer; the box contains four.
The product description lists milk and lactose among the ingredients. Check the ingredients on the box you buy if you need to avoid them.
Frequently asked questions
How can you take ice lollies to the airport?
Keep the time between buying them and putting them back in the cold to a minimum. Anses recommends buying frozen food at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag for the journey; this won’t replace a freezer if you have a long wait in the terminal.
Can you refreeze an ice lolly that has started to melt?
Don’t refreeze a thawed product. Anses recommends eating food soon after it has defrosted and not freezing it again. Always follow the instructions on the packaging, too.
Which allergens should you check in a mini ice lolly assortment?
Read the ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces on the box you’ve chosen. For example, Carrefour France’s Carrefour Extra mini assortment lists milk, soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of eggs and other nuts.