For a quick top-up shop, start by choosing the number of ice lollies to suit the number of people you’re serving: a larger pack makes sharing easier, while a smaller one helps avoid unnecessary portions. Then check the weight, recipe and allergens for the product you’ve chosen. As recommended by Anses, pick up frozen foods at the end of your shop, carry them in an insulated bag and keep the journey home as short as possible.
If you don’t want to bring home more ice creams than you need, consider the number of pieces, their size and the pack weight together. The formats offered by E.Leclerc and ALDI show why these details matter just as much as the type of ice cream.
A pack of mini ice lollies can make sharing easier, as long as the number of pieces is right and there’s room in the freezer. ALDI, for example, offers packs of MUCCI mini ice lollies.
The exact recipe matters more than the product range name: check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you choose. Products described by Magnum don’t all have the same ingredients.
For a quick top-up shop, first work out how many portions you need, then make sure you can get the ice creams back into the freezer promptly. The recipe and ingredients can help you choose between formats that suit your needs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and quantity | Compare the number of pieces and net weight of similar formats; distinguish cones from ice lollies. | If I’m serving only a few people, I want to avoid a pack with several pieces left over. Around 34% of consumers who prioritise getting the right quantity are said to feel the same way. |
| Availability and storage | Check that the product is available at your chosen shop and take an insulated bag for the journey home, so you can get it back into the freezer quickly. | When I’m doing a quick shop, I want to find my ice creams without making the journey home take longer. For around 33% of consumers, speed and keeping products frozen are said to come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements for the exact product. | If an ingredient is a problem for me, I need to be able to check the recipe on the pack I’m taking home, rather than relying on the front of the pack. Around 20% of consumers are said to put this check first. |
| Recipe and format | Check the flavour, type of coating and size of the pieces before switching one product for another. | If I’m buying for several people, I want a recipe and portions they’ll actually enjoy. This is said to be the main criterion for around 13% of consumers. |
A cone, a mini ice lolly and a larger ice lolly aren’t necessarily the same size or suited to the same occasion.
Compare the weight and number of pieces in products of the same type, then choose a format that the people you’re serving will actually want to eat.
The journey home is part of choosing a frozen product. Anses advises picking up frozen foods at the end of your shop, using an insulated bag and keeping the journey as short as possible.
Leave the ice creams until the end of your shop, take an insulated bag and follow the storage instructions on the pack as soon as you get home.
The Magnum Vegan Amande x3 described by Magnum contains almonds and carries warnings that it may contain milk, soya and other nuts.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the specific pack, even if the front highlights a plant-based recipe.
What’s on offer can vary by shop, click and collect service and time of year.
Check what’s available at the shop you’re visiting before you set off, and have an acceptable alternative format in mind in case the product you’re looking for isn’t there.
These pointers relate to specific ranges or products. The fact that a brand is mentioned here doesn’t guarantee that its products will be available at your local shop.
ALDI’s ice cream brand offers mini ice lollies and double-coated ice lollies, among other products.
This brand in E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range is a useful comparison if you’re also considering ice cream cones.
Magnum offers ice lollies with different recipes and coatings, including a Vegan Amande x3 product.
The retailer’s frozen food category includes ice lollies, mini ice lollies and frozen bars.
Lidl’s frozen food section includes a category for ice cream.
These packs of ice lollies and sorbet lollies can be compared by portion count and recipe. Check the ingredients and storage instructions for each product before choosing.
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A pack of three ice lollies for anyone looking for a mint chocolate recipe without buying more portions than they need.
Check the milk and nut warnings on the packaging. Store at −18 °C or below; do not refreeze once thawed.
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Eight individual portions to consider if several people would like a melon-flavoured ice lolly.
Check the ingredients and the warning about colour E102 on the packaging. Store at −18 °C or below; do not refreeze once thawed.
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Twelve orange and cherry-flavoured portions to consider for a group, if you have room to store the rest of the pack.
Check the packaging for warnings about possible allergens. Store at −18 °C or below; do not refreeze once thawed.
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A pack of eight ice lollies for anyone looking for the Vanilla Almond recipe and with room to store the portions they don’t eat straight away.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions on the pack you buy.
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Four coconut sorbet lollies for a small group or to keep in the freezer for later.
The recipe name is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information, especially if you avoid milk. Store at −18 °C; do not refreeze once thawed.
Start with the number of pieces and the net weight, then check that the portions suit the same occasion. A mini ice lolly and a cone aren’t necessarily interchangeable, even if both packs contain several frozen treats.
Pick them up at the end of your shop, carry them in an insulated bag and keep the time before they go back into the freezer to a minimum, following Anses’ advice. Also follow the storage instructions on the pack.
No: a plant-based label alone doesn’t mean a product is free from a particular allergen. Magnum says its Vegan Amande x3 product contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts; check the information on the specific product you’re buying.
Check the ingredients list and any other allergen information on the packaging. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the labels of pre-packed foods; also check for any ‘may contain’ warning that applies to the product.
No: first select the shop or click and collect service you’re using to check its range. If you need ice creams straight away, look for another portion count or recipe that would suit you too.