Sugar-Free Ice Lollies for Pre-Dinner Drinks: Check the Claim

Who is this guide for?

Anyone looking for a genuinely ‘sugar-free’ option

You want to distinguish a very low sugar content from simply having no added sugars. Check the exact claim, then look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

Hosts avoiding added sugars

You’re considering fruit ice lollies for pre-dinner drinks and are happy for them to contain sugars naturally present in fruit. Auchan’s mango and passion fruit and strawberry product information lets you compare both details.

Groups mindful of allergens

If you’re serving several people, check the allergens and ‘may contain’ information on the pack you buy before offering the ice lollies.

Which criteria should you prioritise?

When serving ice lollies with pre-dinner drinks, your choice depends mainly on what you mean by ‘sugar-free’, followed by the needs of the people you’re serving.

Criterion	What to check	Who it matters to
Genuinely ‘sugar-free’	Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. According to Gerblé, the ‘sugar-free’ claim means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml.	If I’m looking for a very low sugar content, I don’t want to confuse this requirement with having no added sugars. Around 50% of shoppers put this strict criterion first.
No added sugars	Read the claim, ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and per serving.	When choosing a fruit ice lolly, I prioritise a recipe with no added sugars while accepting the sugars in the fruit; nearly 30% of shoppers make this their priority.
Serving a group	Check the allergens and ‘may contain’ information, the number of ice lollies and the storage instructions.	When I’m serving several guests, I need to consider their allergies and keep the ice lollies in the recommended conditions. For around 20% of shoppers, this precaution comes before the other criteria.

Mistakes to avoid before serving

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

Auchan’s product information lists 17 g or 19 g of sugars per 100 g for two ice lollies that are labelled ‘no added sugar’.

If your criterion is ‘sugar-free’, check for that specific claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging of the product you choose.
Relying on the flavour or fruit imagery alone

A fruit flavour alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar an ice lolly contains.

Compare the ingredients list and nutrition information for the exact product, using the same 100 g basis.
Forgetting ‘may contain’ information when sharing

The product information for both Auchan ice lollies warns that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and other nuts.

Before serving someone with an allergy, read the pack you’ve bought and take account of their precautions around traces.
Refreezing ice lollies that have thawed

The instructions for the Auchan ice lollies mentioned here recommend storing them at −18 °C and say not to refreeze a product once it has thawed.

Take out only the ice lollies you need and follow the instructions on the packaging.

Brands to consider for these ice lollies

Auchan

Auchan offers mango and passion fruit and strawberry fruit ice lollies labelled ‘no added sugar’, in boxes of four.

Their product information includes nutrition values per 100 g and storage instructions.
The ‘of which sugars’ figure is 19 g per 100 g for mango and passion fruit and 17 g per 100 g for strawberry: the claim doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’.

Magnum

The range includes ice lollies, such as the Vegan Almond variety, which Magnum describes as plant-based vanilla ice cream coated in chocolate and almonds.

The description helps you identify the recipe and ice-lolly format.
Being plant-based doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains. Check the specific product’s information if this matters to you.

Carrefour

Carrefour’s ice cream and sorbet range includes ice lollies and frozen bars.

These formats make it easy to find products to serve individually.
To choose based on sugar content, check the claim and nutrition information for the specific product, rather than relying on its place in the range.

MUCCI® (ALDI)

ALDI describes MUCCI® as a range of ice creams and sorbets that includes ice lollies.

The range includes ice-lolly formats to share.
The fact that the range includes ice lollies doesn’t mean they’re ‘sugar-free’: the label on each specific product is what matters.

Joybuy products related to this choice

Frequently asked questions

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

No. Sugars naturally present in the ingredients may still be there. For example, Auchan’s fruit ice lollies labelled ‘no added sugar’ list 17 g or 19 g of sugars per 100 g, depending on the flavour.

How can I compare two ice lollies?

Compare their ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g, then check what that means for one ice lolly as a serving. If you want to distinguish ‘sugar-free’ from ‘no added sugar’, also check the exact claim and the ingredients.

Can I offer Auchan fruit ice lollies to someone with a peanut or nut allergy?

Don’t assume they’re suitable: the product information for the mango and passion fruit and strawberry flavours warns that they may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts. Check the packaging for the batch you’ve bought and follow the precautions taken by the person concerned.

Can I refreeze Auchan ice lollies after serving them with drinks?

Not if they’ve thawed: the instructions for these products say not to refreeze them once thawed. Store them at −18 °C, following the guidance on the packaging.