Who is this choice for?

Organisers who pay close attention to allergens

You’ll need to be able to answer families’ questions about milk, nuts and possible traces. Keep the full label for each product close at hand during the sale.

Volunteers who need to serve quickly

Pre-portioned ice lollies save you the trouble of cutting and washing up. Compare the number of lollies in each box with the space available in your freezer.

Teams looking to offer a variety of recipes

You might be considering a fruity water ice and a dairy ice lolly. To present them separately, keep the information for each recipe to hand and store their packaging apart.

What should you check before the sale?

Start by choosing products whose labels you can check and whose storage instructions you can follow. Then decide whether one recipe will be enough, or whether you can manage several flavours without mixing up their information.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Allergens Check the highlighted ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the label for each flavour; keep this information accessible at your stall. If I need to answer families’ questions about ingredients, I want to find the label for the ice lolly being served without hesitation. Around 29% of affected consumers would make this their top priority.
Keeping products frozen Check the temperature stated on the packaging, then consider freezer capacity, transport and how quickly you’ll be serving the products. Without suitable freezing facilities at the event, I’d rather limit the number I take out at a time. Keeping products frozen would be the top priority for around 29% of affected consumers.
Number of portions Check how many pieces are in each box and distinguish mini ice lollies from other sizes before working out how many you’ll need. To plan the serving, I mainly need to know how many portions each box will provide; around 24% of affected consumers would put this first.
Variety of recipes If you’re offering both water-based and dairy ice lollies, choose packaging that’s easy to tell apart and keep the information for each separate. I’d like to offer a fruity option and a dairy variety without mixing up their labels when serving. Around 18% of affected consumers would put this ahead of the other criteria.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘water ice’ means ‘allergen-free’

    Auchan’s fruit ice lollies carry warnings that they may contain traces of milk, peanuts and nuts, even though milk isn’t listed as an ingredient.

    Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings for the flavour you buy; don’t present the whole category as suitable for people with allergies.

  • Getting rid of the boxes before the sale

    Once the ice lollies have been taken out of their boxes, it can be difficult to match each product with its ingredients. The DGCCRF reminds retailers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.

    Keep the packaging, or a legible copy of each label, at the point of sale and clearly match it to the relevant products.

  • Planning quantities without sorting out freezer storage

    Auchan’s fruit ice lollies must be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen after thawing.

    Check storage and transport arrangements before buying, then only take out quantities you can serve in line with the stated instructions.

Brands and retailers to know

Magnum

Dairy ice lollies with a chocolate coating to consider if this kind of treat suits your planned selection.

  • The ingredients list for Magnum Mint x4 published by Magnum makes several dairy ingredients easy to identify.
  • Joybuy’s product listing for an almond Magnum also mentions almonds and possible traces of other nuts: check each flavour separately.

Carrefour

The retailer offers its own-brand ice lollies and frozen bars, as well as national brands.

  • The pack sizes available make it easy to compare the number of portions in each product.
  • Carrefour’s listing for Magnum Double Chocolate states that it contains milk, so check the ingredients of each product individually.

E.Leclerc / Marque Repère

Boxes containing several ice lollies can make it easier to count portions.

  • The SMICY product listed by E.Leclerc contains 12 ice lollies.
  • This product lists ingredients including reconstituted skimmed milk, lactose and milk proteins; availability depends on the E.Leclerc store.

Auchan

The retailer offers fruit-flavoured water ice lollies, among other options, as an alternative to dairy varieties.

  • The box of fruit ice lollies listed by Auchan contains 8 pieces.
  • This product carries warnings that it may contain traces of milk, peanuts and nuts. It must be stored at −18 °C and not refrozen after thawing.

ALDI / Mucci

Mucci mini ice lollies are worth comparing if serving lots of smaller portions is important.

  • ALDI France offers, among other options, a box of 12 Mucci mini ice lollies.
  • Before choosing a product, check its packaging for full details of the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Products related to this topic will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can you describe a water ice lolly as ‘milk-free’ at a school sale?

Not just because it’s a water ice: check the label for the specific product you’ve bought. Auchan’s fruit ice lollies don’t list milk as an ingredient, but do carry warnings that they may contain traces of milk, peanuts and nuts. If someone has an allergy, follow the guidance provided by their family.

What information should you keep to hand during the sale?

Keep the label for each prepacked product accessible and easy to read, especially so you can identify its ingredients and allergens. The DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list; keep the boxes or legible copies of the labels with the corresponding products.

How should you store ice lollies before and during the sale?

Follow the storage instructions on the product you’ve bought and plan storage and transport accordingly. Auchan’s fruit ice lollies must be stored at −18 °C and must not be refrozen after thawing.