For a treat at the airport, buying an individual ice lolly just before you eat it means you won’t have to keep a frozen multipack cold during your journey. If you buy one before setting off or choose several portions to share, plan how you’ll keep them cold and check the exact ingredients, particularly the allergens. Don’t assume you’ll be allowed to take an ice lolly on board.
You’d like a frozen dessert while you wait, without having to keep it for later or put it in your hand luggage. Buying it just before you eat it minimises the time it spends out of the freezer, in line with DGCCRF advice on transporting frozen food.
Your choice is mainly about the coating, sauce or inclusions. Magnum White Chocolate & Cookies and Intense Dark are examples of different recipes; remember to check the allergens for the exact product you choose.
A multipack may work if everyone can eat the lollies quickly. For each recipe, check the number of portions, the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings: these vary from one product to another.
First decide when you’ll eat the ice lolly and how you’ll keep it cold. Then compare the recipe, ingredients and number of portions.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| When you’ll eat it and keeping it cold | The storage instructions on the packaging and the time between buying and eating it. If you buy it before your journey, take an insulated bag. | I want to eat my ice lolly while I wait, without letting it defrost on the way; around 37% of consumers would put this first. |
| Chocolate recipe | The coating, sauce and inclusions in the exact product, rather than just the range’s general description. | For my break, I’m looking for a particular combination of ice cream and chocolate above all; around 27% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the product you choose. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the flavour alone isn’t enough to help me choose; around 18% of consumers would put the ingredients first. |
| Number of portions | How many lollies are in the pack and whether everyone can eat them without waiting. | We’re travelling as a group and want to share the pack straight away; around 18% of consumers would put pack size first. |
A journey and a wait without a way to keep the lollies cold could leave them defrosted. The DGCCRF recommends keeping the time spent transporting frozen food to a minimum and using an insulated bag if possible. The Auchan product pages we checked say not to refreeze a product once it has defrosted.
Choose a number of portions you can eat quickly, or plan how to keep them cold during your journey before you buy.
If the pack defrosts before everyone has finished, you may have to throw away the remaining portions.
A cookie, chocolate or pistachio recipe may contain several ingredients and carry ‘may contain’ warnings. For example, Magnum says its White Chocolate & Cookies contains milk and may contain wheat, barley, oats, soya, almonds and pistachios.
Check the label on the exact product before you buy, especially if someone in your group needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Security rules depend, among other things, on the type of item and its packaging. The French Civil Aviation Authority also points out that airlines may impose additional restrictions.
If you plan to take an ice lolly on board, check the guidance from your departure airport and airline for your flight. If you just want a quick treat, it’s better to eat it at the airport.
Magnum’s French range includes ice lollies, tubs and mini versions, with a choice of chocolate recipes.
Carrefour’s range includes ice lollies in chocolate, caramel and nut-based flavours, among others.
Auchan’s product pages include white chocolate ice lollies in packs of four and chocolate and pistachio lollies in packs of twelve.
These Joybuy products give you a choice of recipes and pack sizes for a tasty treat or something to share. If you’re planning to eat them at the airport, buy them close to the time you’ll eat them or keep them cold during your journey.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate ice lollies to share straight away. The pack contains four, so check the ingredients for this product and keep it cold until you’re ready to eat them.
Image unavailable
A pack of four ice lollies for anyone after a chocolatey recipe who can eat them quickly. Check the ingredients on the pack and keep the portions cold before serving.
Image unavailable
These six mini sorbet sticks are a good choice if you prefer a fruity recipe with dark chocolate and plan to share them straight away. Check the ingredients for this product and keep it cold until you’re ready to eat them.
Image unavailable
This pack of eight vanilla and almond ice cream bars needs to be shared quickly or kept frozen until serving. As almond is in the recipe name, checking the label is particularly important if anyone needs to avoid nuts.
Image unavailable
This pack of three ice lollies is ideal if you’re after a mint and chocolate combination, whether you’re on your own or with a small group. Check the ingredients and only plan to transport the pack if you can keep it cold until you eat them.
Don’t assume you’ll be allowed to take it through security. The French Civil Aviation Authority explains that the rules depend, among other things, on the type of item and its packaging, and that an airline may have stricter rules. Check the guidance from your departure airport and airline for your flight.
Buy it close to the time you plan to eat it, or make sure you can keep it cold during your journey. The DGCCRF recommends keeping the time spent transporting frozen food to a minimum and using an insulated bag if possible.
Not for the Auchan products we checked: their product pages say never to refreeze a product once it has defrosted. If you can’t keep a multipack cold, choose an amount your group can eat quickly.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product rather than relying on the flavour name alone. Magnum says White Chocolate & Cookies contains milk and may contain wheat, soya, almonds and pistachios, among other ingredients; check any other recipe separately.