For a snack shared with others, choose the number of ice lollies to suit the portions you need, then compare pack sizes by the size of each lolly, the flavours and the type of ice lolly. A large assortment is a good choice if everyone needs a portion; consider mini ice lollies if you’d prefer smaller portions or a choice of recipes. Served with toast and jam, an ice lolly is a separate dessert. It’s only suitable for a lunchbox if it can be kept cold until it’s eaten.
If several people are having an ice lolly for dessert, first check that the box contains enough. Auchan and E.Leclerc product listings include assortments of 10 and 20 ice lollies, for example. However, the number of portions alone doesn’t tell you how big they are or what recipe they contain.
An assortment lets you offer several flavours without opening multiple boxes. The Magnum mini ice lolly assortment listed by Auchan contains three recipes and 10 ice lollies of 55 ml each. Check how many of each flavour are included, too.
If the ingredients matter to you, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and for each flavour if needed. Make sure you can keep these frozen products cold until they’re served. An ordinary lunchbox isn’t a substitute for something that keeps food cold.
If you’re serving ice lollies with toast and jam, treat them as a separate dessert. Work out how many portions you need before comparing flavours, ingredients and transport requirements.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of ice lollies | Count the portions you need and check their size, as well as the space available in your freezer. | When I regularly serve dessert to a group, I want a box that covers these get-togethers without confusing the number of ice lollies with the size of each portion. Around 33% of consumers put this need first. |
| Portion sizes and flavours | Check the size of each ice lolly and how the flavours are divided up in the assortment. | If everyone around the table likes different flavours, I’d rather let them choose a smaller portion that suits them. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| How much you’ll use | Compare the total weight with the number of portions you actually plan to serve, distinguishing between water ice lollies and chocolate-coated ice lollies. | I want the contents of the box to match the number of snacks I’m planning, rather than relying on how big the box looks. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and keeping food cold | Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and plan transport that keeps the ice lollies cold. | If I need to check a recipe or take the ice lollies with me before serving them, these requirements come first when I’m choosing. They’re the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Frozen ice lollies can’t be stored like toast and jam. The DGCCRF advises keeping transport time for frozen food to a minimum, using an insulated container and putting it in the freezer as soon as possible.
Save ice lollies for serving straight from the freezer, or for an outing where they can be kept cold until they’re eaten. For an ordinary lunchbox, plan a snack without ice lollies.
Different flavours may have different ingredients. Carrefour lists milk in the products reviewed, almonds in the EXTRA recipe and, depending on the product, possible traces of other allergens.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ information on the exact packaging, including for each recipe in an assorted box.
The Auchan listing features a Magnum assortment of mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate ice lollies.
These Carrefour products let you compare different pack sizes and recipes, rather than treating the range as a single product.
E.Leclerc features a SMICY assortment of 20 water ice lollies in five flavours.
The Auchan range features an Auchan Bio fruity mix ice lolly in a box of six.
These products include water ice lollies, ice pops to freeze and small ice lollies to serve separately from toast. Compare the number of ice lollies, flavours and product type before choosing your box.
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A good choice if you’d like to offer a range of flavours at a shared snack.
The box lists five flavours. Check the ingredients for each one if the recipe is important to you.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a fruity assortment to freeze before serving, rather than a box of coated ice lollies.
Check the net weight on the packaging before comparing quantities with another box. If you have an allergy, check the labelling, too.
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A handy way to serve individual water ice lollies to a group, with a choice of flavours.
The box lists five flavours. Check the allergen information on the exact packaging before serving.
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A good choice if you’d like to offer a selection of smaller ice lollies at snack time.
Check how the different recipes are divided up in the box, along with the allergen information on the packaging, especially for milk and nuts.
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A great way to serve small sorbet ice lollies with two flavours to choose from.
Check the packaging for any allergen warnings relevant to you, and keep the ice lollies cold until they’re served.
Not in an ordinary lunchbox that doesn’t keep them properly cold. Ice lollies are frozen products; the DGCCRF recommends transporting them in an insulated container for as short a time as possible, then putting them in the freezer promptly. They can be served as a separate dessert if they’re kept under the right conditions until serving.
Start by choosing a box with enough ice lollies for the number of people you’re serving, then check the portion size. Auchan, for example, features an assortment of 10 Magnum mini ice lollies, while E.Leclerc lists an assortment of 20 SMICY water ice lollies. The different types aren’t interchangeable just because they come in different quantities.
Check each product and, if necessary, each flavour before choosing. The Carrefour listings reviewed mention milk in some ice lollies and almonds in the EXTRA recipe; warnings about possible traces vary by product. Don’t assume you know what’s in a box from the name of its range alone.
Don’t refreeze the product if its packaging says not to. The Carrefour SIMPL listing explicitly states that a thawed product must never be refrozen. Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought.