Who is this guide for?

Anyone looking for a ‘sugar-free’ label

You want to tell this regulated claim apart from ‘no added sugar’ before comparing products.

Anyone counting carbohydrates per serving

You need to check the figures for the lolly you’ll actually eat, so you can compare them with your own dietary guidance.

Anyone looking for a fruit lolly

You want to check the recipe, any declared allergen traces and whether the product is available in your local shop or for online grocery shopping.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the exact wording of the claim, then check the carbohydrates and sugars for the portion you plan to eat. Finally, check the ingredients and whether the exact product is available locally.

What to check How to check it Who this matters to
Wording on the packaging Check whether the product says ‘sugar-free’ or ‘no added sugar’, then look at ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition information. If I’m specifically looking for a ‘sugar-free’ ice lolly, ‘no added sugar’ on its own doesn’t meet my criteria. This distinction would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
How much you’ll eat Compare the carbohydrates and sugars per portion with the amount you plan to eat. If I want to include a lolly with a meal, I need to know the carbohydrates in the one I’ll eat. This calculation would come first for around 30% of consumers.
Recipe and availability Check the ingredients, any declared allergens or traces, and whether the exact product is available in your shop. If I’m looking for a fruit-flavoured recipe in my local shop, I want to be able to check the ingredients of the product on offer. This would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Confusing ‘no added sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’

    Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets the limit for the ‘sugar-free’ claim at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean that the ingredients contain no sugars.

    Check the exact wording on the packaging, then read the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition information.

  • Looking only at the figures per 100 g

    A figure per 100 g won’t necessarily match the amount you eat. According to Auchan’s product listings, the mango and passion fruit and strawberry lollies each contain 13 g of carbohydrates per 60 g lolly.

    Check the figure per portion, and adjust the amount if you plan to eat more than one lolly.

  • Assuming a fruit recipe contains no sugars

    Auchan’s product listings show 11 g of sugars in a 60 g mango and passion fruit lolly and 10 g in the strawberry version, despite both being labelled ‘no added sugar’.

    Compare the ingredients, carbohydrates and sugars for the exact product instead of relying on the word ‘fruit’ in the description.

  • Forgetting to check the exact product when ordering

    Auchan’s listings for both lollies declare possible traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and other nuts. A product you spot in a catalogue may also not be available from your selected shop.

    Check the packaging and listing for the product you choose, as well as its availability in your shop or for online grocery shopping.

Retailers and brands to know

Auchan

Auchan offers two ‘no added sugar’ fruit lollies, mango and passion fruit and strawberry, in boxes of four 60 g lollies.

  • The product listings show the ingredients and nutrition information per lolly.
  • These products are not ‘sugar-free’: according to Auchan, they contain 11 g and 10 g of sugars respectively per 60 g lolly. Possible allergen traces are also declared.

Carrefour

Carrefour’s ice lolly search includes a ‘no added sugar’ filter.

  • The filter helps you find products carrying this claim.
  • It doesn’t replace checking the sugars and carbohydrates on each product listing, or confirming local availability.

Magnum

Magnum is among the frozen desserts featured by ALDI France, including as frozen sweets.

  • The brand can be a useful reference point when comparing different types of frozen desserts.
  • The brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is ‘sugar-free’ or what the nutrition information is for a particular lolly. Check the exact product and its label.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugar’ mean ‘sugar-free’?

No. In the European Union, Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 reserves the ‘sugar-free’ claim for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. A product labelled ‘no added sugar’ may still contain sugars from its ingredients. Check the wording and the nutrition information separately.

Are Auchan’s ‘no added sugar’ fruit lollies sugar-free?

No. According to Auchan’s product listings, a 60 g mango and passion fruit lolly contains 11 g of sugars, while a 60 g strawberry lolly contains 10 g. Each provides 13 g of carbohydrates per portion.

Which figures should you compare when counting carbohydrates?

Compare ‘carbohydrates’ and ‘of which sugars’ for the amount you actually plan to eat, and check whether the label gives figures per portion or per 100 g. The French National Health Insurance service recommends checking food labels and reminds us that diets should be tailored to individual needs.

Should you ask for advice before buying a ‘no added sugar’ lolly?

You can compare labels while shopping, but the ‘no added sugar’ claim alone doesn’t determine how the product fits into your diet. If you follow specific guidance on counting carbohydrates or adjusting your treatment, ask your healthcare team how to account for the portion you plan to eat.