When choosing ice lollies with a food allergy in mind, first rule out recipes whose ingredients or precautionary statements are unsuitable for the allergen in question. A plant-based lolly or sorbet isn’t automatically suitable: check the exact pack before comparing quantities and pack sizes for your household.
You’re looking to identify an ingredient that isn’t suitable for the allergy in question, rather than relying on the recipe name. For prepacked food, the DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
You need to choose a box with enough lollies for your household, without overlooking the ingredients and precautionary statements. Also check that your chosen product is available from your retailer.
You’re looking at lollies with no declared dairy ingredients, but you’ll still need to check separately for soya, almonds, other nuts and any “may contain” statements. Carrefour’s product pages for two Magnum Vegan recipes show that these statements can vary from one product to another.
Start with the ingredients of the specific product, then check the quantity and whether the pack size that suits your household is available.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Whether it’s suitable for the allergen in question | The ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any “may contain” statements on the exact pack. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, the ingredients matter more than the flavour or “plant-based” label; around 50% of consumers put this first. |
| Quantity per box | Net weight and number of lollies, taking the units shown into account. | When buying for several people, I look for a quantity that matches what we’ll eat, without choosing an oversized box; around 30% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Pack size and availability | The pack size available from your chosen retailer and the space needed in your freezer. | A recipe that suits me also needs to be easy to find and fit in my freezer; this is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Carrefour’s product page for Magnum Vegan Almond lists almonds and soya, and says it may contain milk and other nuts. So a plant-based recipe won’t necessarily be suitable for every allergy.
Check the ingredients and precautionary statements for the exact variant, based on the allergen in question.
Carrefour’s product page for Extra lists several dairy ingredients. The E.Leclerc product page for Trium vanilla and almond also lists soya and almonds.
Read the label whenever the recipe or pack size changes, even if the lolly looks familiar.
The ingredients that matter are those on the pack you actually receive. A different variant or pack size needs to be checked separately.
When your order arrives, compare the product name, ingredients and precautionary statements with the allergy in question.
The brand offers plant-based lollies, among other products, but each recipe needs to be checked individually.
Product pages for some of the retailer’s lollies give details of their ingredients and allergens.
The retailer offers Marque Repère lollies in a range of recipes and pack sizes.
The retailer offers ice cream and frozen desserts in various pack sizes, including products under the Mucci brand.
These ice lollies and multipack of sorbet offer a range of recipes and pack sizes to compare. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean they’re suitable for any particular allergy: check the information on the corresponding pack.
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This pack of six is worth considering if you’re looking for a sharing size, provided the recipe is suitable for the allergy in question.
Stated total weight: 270 g. The description lists milk and possible traces of nuts, peanuts, eggs and soya; check these details on the pack.
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This pack of six offers another flavour to consider once you’ve checked its ingredients.
Stated total weight: 270 g. The description lists milk and possible traces of nuts, peanuts, eggs and soya; check the exact pack.
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This coconut milk-based sorbet is different from vanilla ice lollies, but the word “sorbet” alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for a particular allergy.
Stated total weight: 280 g. The description mentions possible traces, including milk, nuts, soya and gluten; read the statements on the pack.
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This pack of eight may suit a household looking for this pack size, as long as you check the ingredients in the melon recipe.
The description lists skimmed milk powder and cream. Also check the exact pack for any precautionary statements.
No. Even if a plant-based recipe doesn’t list milk as an ingredient, it may still carry a warning about possible traces. Carrefour’s product page for Magnum Vegan Almond mentions possible traces of milk and also lists almonds and soya. Check the label of your chosen variant in line with the advice for the allergy in question.
Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and precautionary statements on the exact pack, then check the net quantity and storage instructions. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients in prepacked food must be highlighted.
No. On its own, this label tells you nothing about other allergens. Carrefour describes Magnum Vegan Almond as gluten-free, but it also lists almonds and soya and mentions possible traces of milk.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and keep the product frozen throughout. The product page for the Carrefour Extra product checked recommends storing it at −18 °C and says not to refreeze once thawed. Check the instructions for the box you’ve bought.