People with a cool bag
You’re planning to enjoy an individual ice lolly on a picnic, with a journey or a wait before you eat it. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that the cold chain must also be maintained when transporting food.
Who is this choice for?
People who pay attention to ingredients
You’re looking for a chocolate coating, a particular flavour or a vegan recipe, while also needing to check the ingredients and allergens. The Magnum and Auchan product information shows that ingredients vary between products.
People splitting a multipack
You want to take one lolly from a multipack for a solo treat and keep the others for later. The number of lollies and the pack weight can help you choose a size that suits how many portions you expect to need.
What should you check?
First, make a plan for keeping your lollies cold in transit. Once that’s sorted, the label and number of portions can help you choose between recipes and pack sizes.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it cold | Take a suitable cool bag or insulated bag, and check the storage temperature on the packaging. | If I’m travelling before eating it, I need to be able to keep my ice lolly cold until the picnic. Around 46% of consumers put keeping food cold at the top of their list. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, including any possible traces. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or choose a recipe that suits my diet, the flavour name alone isn’t enough. Around 27% of consumers put suitability first. |
| Portion size | Check whether it’s sold individually or as a multipack, and look at the number of lollies and the total weight. | One portion is right for me today, but if I buy a multipack, I want to be able to keep the other lollies. Around 27% of consumers prioritise pack size. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a flavour before planning how to keep it cold
An ice lolly isn’t suitable if it will be left for a long time without a way to keep it cold. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that the cold chain must also be maintained during transport.
Buy your ice lollies last, put them in a cool bag or suitable insulated bag, and take one out when you’re ready to eat it.
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Assuming the allergens from the recipe name
A recipe described as vegan can still contain allergens: Magnum lists almonds and soya in its Vegan Amande x3 product. The ingredients also vary between the Auchan multipacks mentioned here.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you buy, even if you already know the brand.
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Confusing an individual portion with an individually sold product
A lolly can be wrapped or eaten individually while still being sold as part of a multipack. Carrefour, E.Leclerc and ALDI catalogues, for example, feature packs containing several lollies.
Check how many lollies are in the pack before you buy, and make sure you can keep any you won’t eat at the picnic cold.
Ice lolly brands to know
Magnum
Magnum’s French website features chocolate-coated ice lollies and a Vegan Amande x3 product.
- The Vegan Amande x3 product page provides an ingredients list and nutritional information.
- This recipe contains almonds and soya. The vegan label doesn’t mean you can skip checking the allergens on the pack.
Carrefour
The Carrefour catalogue features ice lollies across several of its ranges, including Carrefour Classic’, Carrefour Sensation and Carrefour Extra.
- There are multipacks in different sizes, so you can choose one to suit the number of portions you need.
- Check which product is available in your store or through your chosen ordering channel before settling on a pack size.
Marque Repère / Trium / Eskiss (E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère frozen dessert catalogue features a Smicy assortment and Trium ice lollies.
- The Smicy x20 assortment offers a pack size designed for several separate portions.
- A multipack appearing in the catalogue doesn’t mean you can buy an individual lolly in every store.
Auchan / Pouce
The product pages mentioned feature vanilla and chocolate ice lolly assortments from Auchan and Pouce in packs of 12.
- The product pages give the number of lollies and ingredients lists, which are useful when checking the pack you’re considering.
- The recipes mentioned contain allergens or warnings about possible traces, so check the label on the product you choose.
MUCCI (ALDI)
MUCCI is an ice cream brand featured in the ALDI catalogue, which includes mini ice lollies and other frozen treats.
- The catalogue lists packs of four ice lollies and packs of twelve mini lollies.
- Check which pack size is available at your local store before planning your purchase.
Ice lollies available on Joybuy
These products are sold in multipacks, with the lollies ready to enjoy individually. If you’re taking one to a picnic, plan how you’ll keep it cold and check the ingredients on the pack you choose.
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Snickers Chocolate Caramel and Peanut, 5 ice cream bars, 204 g
A multipack to consider if you’d like to take one bar for an individual treat and keep the others cold.
The pack contains 5 bars and weighs 204 g. If you avoid peanuts, milk or certain nuts, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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POPELINO Sicilian Pistache Ice Sticks, white chocolate, x4, 312 g
This multipack could suit someone looking for a pistachio portion with a white chocolate coating, provided they can keep the remaining lollies frozen.
The pack contains 4 lollies and weighs 312 g. If you avoid pistachios, milk or soya, check the allergen information on the product you receive.
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POPELINO Intense Dark Chocolate Ice Lollies x4, 312 g
A dark chocolate option for an individual treat, if you have a way to keep the rest of the multipack cold.
The pack contains 4 lollies and weighs 312 g. The product information lists milk and soya, as well as other allergens handled at the production site. Check the label if these are relevant to you.
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MAGNUM White Chocolate & Strawberry, 4 ice cream bars, 324 g
This multipack combines strawberry and white chocolate for an individual treat, as long as you can keep the bars cold until you’re ready to enjoy them.
The pack contains 4 bars and weighs 324 g. The product information lists milk and possible traces of almonds or pistachios. Check the packaging if you have an allergy.
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Binggrae Melona Melon Ice Bar, 8 × 70 ml
You can split this melon multipack across individual treats, provided you have room to store the remaining portions in the freezer.
It contains 8 bars of 70 ml each. The product information lists milk and includes a warning about the colour E102 and children’s activity and attention. Read the label before giving it to a child.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a cool bag to take ice lollies on a picnic?
Yes. If you won’t eat them straight after buying them, plan how you’ll keep them cold during the journey. The DGCCRF recommends taking a cool bag on a picnic; also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Can you refreeze an ice lolly that has thawed?
Don’t refreeze it if the packaging says not to. The Auchan assortment product information mentioned here says that a thawed product must never be refrozen. Plan your journey so you can eat the lolly as soon as you take it out of the freezer.
Is a vegan ice lolly suitable if you’re allergic to nuts or soya?
Not necessarily. Magnum describes Vegan Amande x3 as vegan, but its ingredients list includes almonds and soya protein. Check the ingredients and any warnings about traces on the exact pack before choosing.
Can you take one lolly from a multipack for a solo treat?
Yes, as long as you can keep the lolly you take cold and store the rest of the multipack properly. Check the number of lollies and the pack weight: an individual portion doesn’t mean the product is sold individually.