People who insist on the Fairtrade mark
You’re looking for chocolate ice lollies for your holiday and don’t want to confuse the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark with another commitment on cocoa. The pack of the ice lolly you choose is what to check.
Who are these criteria for?
Families planning several portions
You need to choose enough ice lollies for your stay, consider the ingredients for everyone who’ll be there and make sure you have enough room in the freezer.
Holidaymakers transporting their ice lollies
You’re buying before heading to a holiday rental or another destination. An insulated bag and access to a freezer when you arrive matter just as much as the pack size.
What should you check before buying?
When choosing an ice lolly for your holiday, check the Fairtrade evidence on the product, how you’ll transport it and the recipe separately. None of these tells you about the others.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade proof on the ice lolly you choose | Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the pack. If the ice lolly contains several ingredients, read the details on the back, especially if the mark includes an arrow. | I want a Fairtrade-labelled chocolate ice lolly, without assuming its status from the brand alone or another cocoa mark; around 50% of consumers would prioritise this proof on the pack. |
| Transport and pack size | Check how many ice lollies are in the pack and how much room you have in the freezer. Anses advises buying frozen food at the end of your shop and transporting it in an insulated bag. | If I’m sharing ice lollies during my stay, I need enough portions and a journey that will keep them properly frozen; around 30% of consumers would prioritise transport and pack size. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and highlighted allergens. To compare recipes, also check the nutritional information and the quantity stated on each pack. | If several people will be eating these ice lollies, I need to choose a recipe that suits them before considering pack size; around 20% of consumers would put ingredients at the heart of their choice. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming all certified cocoa is Fairtrade
Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade/Max Havelaar are separate marks. A brand’s statement about its cocoa purchases doesn’t establish that the specific ice lolly you pick carries the Fairtrade mark.
If that mark is essential to your purchase, look for it on the pack and read the information about the ingredients in ice lollies made with several ingredients, as Max Havelaar France recommends.
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Choosing a large pack without planning the journey
A multipack needs space in the freezer as soon as you arrive. Without suitable protection, the ice lollies can be exposed to heat during the journey.
Follow Anses’ advice: buy frozen food at the end of your shop and use an insulated bag. Check that you’ll have room to put the pack in the freezer at your destination.
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Trusting the picture instead of the ingredients list
The coating shown on the pack doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or allergens in the recipe. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergens must be highlighted on food labels.
Before buying for several people, read the ingredients list and check the allergens shown on the pack you choose.
Brands and retailers to look at
These brands and retailers offer places to look for ice lollies or find out about commitments on cocoa. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean that all their ice lollies carry the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark.
Magnum
Magnum offers chocolate-coated ice lollies, including packs of four in the multipacks reviewed.
- Magnum says it buys its cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms and uses mass balance for cocoa.
- This statement doesn’t confirm that a specific Magnum ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark. Check the pack if that’s important to you.
MUCCI
MUCCI is ALDI’s ice cream and sorbet brand, and its range includes ice lollies.
- ALDI says MUCCI ice creams are made with Rainforest-certified cocoa.
- This doesn’t mean that a particular MUCCI ice lolly is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certified.
Lidl
Lidl may be worth looking at if the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark is one of your search criteria.
- In 2023, Lidl France said it offered 114 Fairtrade/Max Havelaar-labelled products in its permanent range.
- This figure refers to the retailer’s range at that time, not the certification of any particular ice lolly. Check the pack available in your store.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s online range includes its own and other brands of ice lollies in various pack sizes.
- Product listings can help you check how many ice lollies are in a pack and its total quantity before you buy.
- A product’s inclusion in this range doesn’t establish that it’s Fairtrade. Check the label on the product you choose.
E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc offers, among other products, ECO+ multipacks of ice lollies that you can compare by number of pieces and quantity.
- Pack-size details help you check whether the product suits the number of people and the space available in your freezer.
- A larger pack isn’t proof of Fairtrade/Max Havelaar certification; look for the mark on the product you buy.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if an ice lolly is Fairtrade/Max Havelaar?
Look for the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark on the pack of the ice lolly you choose. Max Havelaar France explains that, for ice lollies made with several ingredients, a mark with an arrow means you should check the back for information about the relevant ingredients and their traceability.
Does Magnum’s Rainforest Alliance cocoa mean its ice lollies are Fairtrade?
No. This statement isn’t enough to establish that an ice lolly carries the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar mark. Magnum says it buys its cocoa and vanilla from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms; check the label of the ice lolly you’re interested in separately.
How should you transport ice lollies to your holiday destination?
Buy ice lollies at the end of your shop and put them in an insulated bag, following Anses’ advice for frozen food. Before choosing a multipack, make sure you’ll be able to put it in the freezer when you arrive.
What should you check on the pack if several people will be sharing the ice lollies?
First check the ingredients list and highlighted allergens, then the number of ice lollies and the quantity stated. Nutritional information lets you compare recipes using the figures shown, particularly per 100 g or per portion, where these are given on the pack.