For a nursery snack, first choose an ice lolly that the nursery allows and that meets the dietary requirements of the children who will be eating it. A smaller size does not resolve allergen concerns. Once you have confirmed these points, mini ice lollies make it easier to hand out individual portions, while a box with more lollies can cater for a larger group. In either case, plan how you’ll transport and store them while keeping them frozen.
You’ll need approval from the nursery, individual portions to hand out and a plan for keeping the ice lollies frozen until they’re served. The French food safety agency Anses recommends using an insulated bag to transport frozen food.
Check each product rather than relying on the range name: depending on the recipe, products mentioned by Carrefour and Auchan contain milk, almonds, soya or hazelnuts. Also check the may-contain warnings on the packaging you buy.
You want to give each child an ice lolly without having to share. The products mentioned by Carrefour include mini versions weighing 32 g each for CARREFOUR EXTRA and measuring 55 mL each for Magnum. These measurements alone aren’t enough to compare their size.
First, confirm the nursery’s rules and check the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen. Then make sure the journey and number of ice lollies work for the snack you have planned.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Approval and allergens | Ask which ice lollies the nursery allows, then check the ingredients, allergens and may-contain warnings on the pack you buy. If a child has individual dietary requirements, ask the nursery to confirm that they can be followed. | When children have dietary requirements, I want to know exactly what can be served to them before choosing a flavour. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers with these needs. |
| Keeping them frozen | Confirm that a freezer will be available as soon as the ice lollies arrive, and use an insulated bag for the journey, in line with Anses advice for frozen food. | If the journey and delivery to the nursery are difficult to organise, I need to sort this out before buying. For around 29% of consumers with these needs, transport and storage are the main concern. |
| Individual portions | Compare the number of ice lollies and the amount per lolly for the exact product. A weight in grams and a volume in millilitres aren’t directly comparable. | If I’m handing out a small ice lolly to each child, I prefer individual portions rather than something that needs to be shared. Around 24% of consumers with these needs prioritise this serving format. |
| Number of portions | Count the children you’ll be serving and check how many ice lollies are listed on the box. Then check the size and ingredients of each one. The products mentioned by Carrefour and Auchan include boxes of 6, 8 or 12. | When the group is large, I want to make sure there are enough ice lollies without confusing the total box weight with the number of individual lollies. This is the top criterion for around 18% of consumers with these needs. |
A smaller portion doesn’t change the ingredients. The mini Magnum and CARREFOUR EXTRA products featured by Carrefour include milk and almonds; the CARREFOUR EXTRA selection mentioned also contains soya.
Where necessary, ask the nursery to approve the exact product, and check the allergens and may-contain warnings on the pack you plan to serve.
Ice lollies need to be kept properly frozen between purchase and serving. Anses advises buying frozen food at the end of your shop and transporting it in an insulated bag.
Plan your journey and make sure a freezer will be available as soon as you deliver the products to the nursery. Also follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy.
An assorted box can contain several recipes. The Magnum mini ice lolly selection featured by Auchan includes Classic, Almond and White Chocolate versions, so check the ingredients of the flavours you plan to hand out.
Check the information for each recipe against the group’s requirements before choosing an assorted box. If you can’t confirm these details, choose a product whose ingredients can be approved.
The range includes classic ice lollies, mini ice lollies and assorted boxes. Magnum describes its Signature collection as “haute couture-inspired”; this reflects its positioning, not its suitability for a group snack.
This supermarket own brand offers classic ice lollies and, according to Carrefour, a selection of 8 mini ice lollies weighing 32 g each.
The range includes a box of 12 vanilla ice lollies, listed by Auchan as weighing 450 g.
This E.Leclerc brand includes vanilla and chocolate ice lollies in packs of 6 or 16, depending on the products mentioned.
ALDI France sells mini ice lollies and double-coated ice lollies under this brand.
These individually portioned ice lollies and water ice lollies let you compare smaller boxes with 12-packs. For each product, check that the nursery allows it, review the allergens on the packaging and make sure it can be kept frozen until serving.
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This selection of six mini ice lollies could work for individual servings if the nursery approves each flavour. Check the box for milk and nut information for all the flavours you plan to serve.
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This box of 12 water ice lollies provides individual portions; it isn’t a creamy ice lolly. Check the batch for may-contain allergen warnings and plan how to keep the lollies frozen until serving.
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The 12 ice lollies give you a pack size to compare with the number of children at the snack. This product carries a warning for people at risk of allergic reactions: check the packaging and ask the nursery to approve it before serving.
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The box of six mini ice lollies makes it easy to plan one portion for each child who can have them. The product contains milk and may contain several types of nuts: check the label and dietary requirements before choosing it.
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The six 55 mL ice lollies are individual portions, so you can compare the pack size with the number of children you’ll be serving. This product contains milk and may contain almonds: check the packaging and ask the nursery to approve it.
Only if the nursery allows this snack and the product meets the dietary requirements of the children who will be eating it. Ask about the rules before buying and check the product label. The French Ministry of National Education says that an individual care plan may provide for a special diet in a school setting; check with the nursery which requirements apply on site.
No. “Mini” describes the portion, not whether the ingredients are suitable for everyone. Carrefour lists milk and almonds in the Magnum Mini vanilla, chocolate and almond product mentioned, and milk, soya and almonds in its CARREFOUR EXTRA selection mentioned. Check the packaging of the product you buy.
Buy them at the end of your shop, transport them in an insulated bag and arrange for them to be put in a freezer as soon as they arrive, following Anses advice for frozen food. Follow the instructions on the pack: the 12-pack of vanilla ice lollies mentioned by Auchan says to store at −18 °C and not to refreeze after thawing.
Start with the number of ice lollies listed on the box and how many children you’ll be serving, then check the amount per lolly and the allergens. The products mentioned by Carrefour and Auchan include boxes of 6, 8 or 12 ice lollies. You can’t directly compare a 32 g mini ice lolly with a 55 mL one using these measurements alone.
Don’t serve any product from an affected batch. Keep the packaging and batch number, then check the information published on RappelConso, the French public product safety alerts website, to identify the products affected and find out what to do.