Parents planning an after-school treat
Individual portions make sharing at home easier, without having to keep ice lollies frozen in a school bag all day.
Who might these formats suit?
Families who need to check allergens
Recipes aren’t interchangeable: the chocolate mini lollies mentioned by Magnum, Carrefour and Auchan contain milk, while other ingredients and possible trace warnings vary by product. The ingredients list on the pack you buy is what matters.
Parents whose child has a food-related PAI
At school, the choice of product must follow the arrangements set out in the child’s individualised welcome plan (PAI). France’s Ministry of Education explains that a PAI can include adjustments relating to a pupil’s diet.
What should you check before choosing?
For eating at school, start by checking storage conditions and your child’s dietary requirements. It’s only worth comparing the number of lollies once you’ve sorted those things out.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping them frozen | Check with the school where and how the products will be kept frozen until they’re eaten, and follow the storage instructions on the pack. | If the ice lollies have to stay in the school bag until lunchtime, I want to know exactly how they’ll be stored. Around 42% of consumers would make keeping them cold their top priority. |
| Allergens and school requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information for each recipe. If there’s a PAI, follow the arrangements agreed with the school. | When my child’s dietary requirements limit what they can eat, a flavour name isn’t enough for me to decide. Around 33% of consumers would put dietary suitability first. |
| Portions to share | Compare the number of pieces and the quantity per piece shown on the pack with the number of people you need to serve. | For an after-school get-together, I want enough individual portions without choosing an assortment that’s too large for the group. Around 25% of consumers would make the number of portions their top priority. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Packing ice lollies in a lunchbox without a suitable way to keep them cold
A pack of individual portions won’t keep ice lollies frozen. Anses recommends using an insulated bag and limiting the time frozen foods are in transit, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll stay frozen until lunchtime at school.
Before planning to send them to school, check storage options with the school and follow the product instructions. Otherwise, keep the pack for eating at home.
-
Assuming every flavour contains the same allergens
Recipes in an assortment can vary. The chocolate products featured by Magnum, Carrefour and Auchan contain milk; depending on the product, the label may also list other allergens or possible traces.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for each recipe on the pack you actually buy, especially if your child has a PAI.
-
Choosing based only on the number of pieces
A larger pack makes sharing easier, but its size doesn’t solve the problems of storage at school or whether the recipes meet your child’s dietary requirements.
Once you’ve checked these requirements, compare the number of lollies with the number of portions you actually need.
Brands and ranges to know
Magnum
According to Magnum, Mini Classic combines vanilla ice cream with a milk chocolate coating, in a box of 6 x 55 ml lollies.
- Six individual portions to count out when sharing.
- Contains milk: check the pack if your child has an allergy. The mini size doesn’t remove the need to keep the lollies frozen.
Carrefour Extra
Carrefour offers an assortment of 8 mini lollies weighing 32 g each, with vanilla ice cream and a variety of chocolate coatings.
- Eight individual portions for sharing at home.
- Carrefour’s product information lists milk, almonds and soya, as well as possible traces of other allergens. Check every recipe on the pack.
Auchan
Auchan offers an assortment of 8 mini lollies, weighing 258 g in total, with a variety of chocolate coatings.
- The number of pieces makes it easier to plan how many each person will get.
- The recipes listed contain milk. Check the packaging of the product you choose for the almond variety and other ingredients.
Marque Repère (E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc lists several Marque Repère ice lolly products, including SMICY vanilla and chocolate lollies in a box of 12.
- The box of 12 is worth considering when sharing with a larger group.
- Check the product information and packaging for the chosen item to find out about its recipe, allergens and storage instructions.
Formats available on Joybuy
These packs include sorbets and other frozen lollies in individual portions. They’re worth considering for sharing after school or somewhere with suitable freezer storage. For eating at school, first confirm the storage arrangements and check the label on each product.
Image unavailable
PopFruit Mini, mango and passion fruit sorbet with dark chocolate, x6, 282 g
Worth considering if you need six portions to share and have suitable freezer storage.
The product information lists soya and possible traces of milk and other allergens. Check the pack label, especially if your child has a PAI. The storage instructions state to keep at −18 °C or below and not to refreeze after defrosting. Not suitable for children under 36 months.
Image unavailable
POP FRUIT 100% Mango, sorbet lollies x4, 280 g
The pack of four is suitable for sharing with a small group, provided the lollies can be kept frozen until they’re eaten.
The product information lists possible traces of milk and other allergens. If you have specific dietary requirements to consider, read the pack before buying. It says to keep at −18 °C or below, not to refreeze after defrosting, and that the product is not suitable for children under 36 months.
Image unavailable
Binggrae Melona Melon, frozen lollies 8 x 70 ml
Eight individual lollies for sharing after school, provided they can be kept frozen as required.
The product information lists milk and the colour E102, with a warning that it may have an adverse effect on children’s activity and attention. Read the label before choosing this product. It must be kept at −18 °C or below and not refrozen after defrosting.
Image unavailable
CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry Ice Pops x12, 444 g
Twelve individual portions to consider for sharing with a larger group, provided you can keep them frozen until serving.
The product information lists possible traces of milk, peanuts, soya and other allergens. Check the pack label if these matter for your child. It says to keep at −18 °C or below and not to refreeze after defrosting.
Image unavailable
Pop Fruit Mini Sicilian Lemon & Sicilian Blood Orange, sorbet lollies x8, 280 g
The pack of eight mini lollies makes it easy to set aside individual portions for sharing after school.
The product information lists possible traces of milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and other allergens. Check the exact pack. It says to keep at −18 °C or below and not to refreeze after defrosting.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a multi-pack of ice lollies in a regular school lunchbox?
Not unless you’ve confirmed there’s a way to keep the lollies frozen until they’re eaten and agreed the arrangements with the school. Anses recommends using an insulated bag and limiting the time frozen foods are in transit, but that doesn’t prove a lunchbox will keep ice lollies frozen throughout the school day.
How can you check the allergens in an assortment of ice lollies?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you actually buy for every recipe in the assortment. The chocolate mini products featured by Magnum, Carrefour and Auchan contain milk; other allergens or possible traces vary by product.
What should you do if your child has a food-related PAI?
Follow the arrangements in the PAI agreed with the school, rather than assuming a product is suitable based on its flavour or brand. France’s Ministry of Education says a PAI can include adjustments relating to a pupil’s diet. Check the specific product against those arrangements.
Are fruit-flavoured ice lollies always milk-free?
No: the fruit flavour alone doesn’t tell you what the ingredients are. Carrefour lists milk and lactose, among other ingredients, in its Solero Exotic and Berry Bliss mini lollies. Check the label of the product you’re considering.