For a birthday party, start by deciding how many portions you need and what part the ice cream will play in the meal. Mini portions are ideal for a small treat, while a standard ice cream stick is a good choice if it’s being served as an individual dessert. If guests have different dietary preferences or allergies, choose separate recipes and check the ingredients in each one. A ‘vegan’ label alone does not mean a product is free from allergens.
If every guest would like a frozen dessert after the drinks and nibbles, a standard ice cream stick is a good place to start. Carrefour France lists a Magnum Classic in 100 mL portions; check the allergens in the recipe you choose.
If you’re already serving other food, a mini assortment gives guests a choice of recipes without committing them to a large ice cream stick. Magnum France lists an assortment of Classic, Almond and White Chocolate in 55 mL portions.
A recipe clearly labelled as plant-based may suit someone’s dietary preference. But it’s still important to read the label: the Carrefour France listing for Magnum Vegan Almond mentions soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of milk.
Decide whether the ice cream will be a small treat or the main dessert, then check the flavours and ingredients before choosing how many boxes to buy. The percentages below show the main priority for consumers with each need.
| What to consider | What to check | Which consumers? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | The number of ice cream sticks and the volume or weight of each, depending on whether the ice cream is an extra treat or a replacement for dessert. | After a big spread of drinks and nibbles, I’d prefer a small ice cream; if it’s dessert, I’d want a more substantial portion. Around 40% of consumers prioritise a portion size that suits the meal. |
| Choice of flavours | The flavours included and how many of each recipe come in an assortment. | When guests don’t all like the same flavours, I want to give them a choice. This variety is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredient suitability | The ingredients list and allergen information for each product, including those in an assortment or plant-based recipe. | If a guest avoids certain ingredients, I need to be able to find a recipe that suits them without relying on its name alone. For around 20% of consumers, ingredient suitability is the main consideration. |
| Number of portions | The number of ice cream sticks in each box and how much freezer space you’ll need for the boxes you choose. | I want to have enough ice cream for the guests who want it, without buying more boxes than I can store. Getting the quantity right is the main priority for around 10% of consumers. |
An almond ice cream stick contains tree nuts, and its label may list other allergens or traces too.
Ask any guests with allergies which ingredients they need to avoid, then check each recipe before putting together your selection.
The Carrefour France listing for Magnum Vegan Almond mentions soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of milk and other tree nuts.
If someone has an allergy, check the ingredients and warnings for the exact product rather than relying on its plant-based label.
The packs listed by Carrefour France, E.Leclerc and ALDI don’t all contain the same number of ice cream sticks or have the same weight.
Work out how many portions you need, then compare the number of pieces and their size: a box of minis won’t provide the same number of standard-sized desserts.
The DGCCRF recommends keeping the journey time for frozen food to a minimum and using an insulated bag where possible. The Auchan France product listings consulted state that the products should be stored at −18 °C and not refrozen once thawed.
Pick up the ice cream last while shopping, put it in the freezer as soon as you get home and take it out just before serving.
The range includes standard ice cream sticks, mini assortments and a Vegan Almond option.
Carrefour Classic’, Extra and Sensation ranges offer a variety of ice cream stick recipes.
The Trium and Smicy ranges include ice cream sticks in a choice of pack sizes.
The Auchan range includes its own-brand ice cream sticks alongside products from other brands.
Mucci offers ice cream sticks and mini sticks in ALDI’s frozen food aisle.
These products let you compare small portions, 100 mL ice cream sticks and multipacks for a birthday party. CAPRI-SUN ice lollies and POP FRUIT sorbet are presented as such, rather than as ice cream sticks.
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Serve smaller individual portions and offer a choice of strawberry and vanilla.
Contains milk; may contain tree nuts and peanuts. Check the packaging for guests with allergies.
Store at −18 °C or below; do not refreeze after thawing.
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Serve eight individual portions if the melon flavour is a hit with your guests.
Contains milk. The product information lists the colour E102 and includes a warning about children’s activity and attention.
Store at −18 °C or below; do not refreeze after thawing.
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Consider this if each ice cream stick is intended as an individual dessert, rather than a small treat after drinks and nibbles.
Vanilla ice cream coated in white chocolate and almonds. Contains milk and almonds; may contain other tree nuts.
Store at −18 °C or below.
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Plan for twelve small individual portions in orange and cherry flavours. These are different from ice cream sticks.
May contain traces of gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and tree nuts; check the packaging for guests with allergies.
Store frozen at −18 °C or below; do not refreeze after thawing.
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Serve four individual portions of coconut sorbet as an alternative to chocolate-coated ice cream.
The product information says it is made in a factory that handles milk, tree nuts, soya and peanuts, among other ingredients. It also states that the product is not suitable for children under 36 months.
Store at −18 °C; do not refreeze after thawing.
Start by allowing one portion for each guest who wants ice cream, then choose the size based on the rest of the meal. A mini portion may be enough after a big spread of drinks and nibbles; if the ice cream is replacing dessert, consider standard portions instead. Check the number of pieces listed on each box.
Not necessarily: ‘vegan’ does not mean ‘allergen-free’. The Carrefour France listing for Magnum Vegan Almond mentions soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of milk and other tree nuts. Check the packaging of the product you buy against the ingredients the person needs to avoid.
Compare the ingredients, allergens, net quantity and nutritional information on a like-for-like basis, especially per 100 g or 100 mL. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients in prepacked foods must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Nutritional information is no substitute for checking this.
The DGCCRF recommends transporting frozen food in an insulated bag where possible, keeping the journey as short as you can and putting the food in the freezer as soon as you get home. Then follow the storage temperature shown on each pack. Auchan France product listings state −18 °C and say not to refreeze a product once it has thawed.