Fans of chocolatey recipes
You’re looking for vanilla ice cream with a chocolate coating, almonds or caramel for an occasional treat. The flavour and pieces mixed in matter more to you than having a variety of flavours in one pack.
Who are these formats for?
Students keeping an eye on portion size
You’d rather choose a smaller treat while you’re studying. A mini ice lolly gives you that smaller format, but doesn’t tell you anything by itself about the nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml.
Shoppers choosing multipacks to share
You look at the number of lollies, the pack weight and the flavours on offer to plan several breaks or share the box. Two assortments with similar recipes can still have different ingredients.
What should you look for before choosing?
First decide whether the size of each lolly or the recipe matters most for your break. When comparing two products, the DGCCRF says that nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml provide a common basis for comparison.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe and textures | Check the type of coating, any pieces mixed in and whether the exact product contains caramel. | If I’m choosing an ice lolly because I fancy chocolate, crunch or caramel, the recipe comes before the format; around 33% of consumers put flavour first. |
| Portion size | Check the amount per lolly and the nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml; a mini format doesn’t necessarily mean a different recipe. | While studying, I’d rather choose the size of my treat than automatically pick a large lolly; around 42% of consumers prioritise portion size. |
| Multipack and sharing | Compare the number of lollies, the total weight and the flavours in the pack. | If I’m sharing a box or planning several breaks, I mainly need a multipack with lollies that suit me; this is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Things to avoid getting wrong
-
Confusing an ice cream treat with a snack for a long study session
A tasty ice lolly is a dessert for when you fancy a treat, but its name or coating doesn’t mean it will keep hunger at bay for long. Manger Bouger points out that snacking in front of screens often involves foods high in fat or sugar.
Decide whether you simply want a little treat or are looking for something to eat between meals. Don’t choose an ice lolly based only on the promise of an indulgent recipe.
-
Assuming two chocolate-and-almond recipes have the same allergens
Carrefour’s product information for Magnum Almond lists milk and almonds, and warns that other nuts may also be present. Another flavour or format may have different allergen information.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact product you choose, even if you already know the brand.
-
Choosing a multipack without checking the size of each lolly
A mini ice lolly assortment and a box of classic-size lollies aren’t designed for the same kind of breaks, even if the number of lollies looks similar.
Check both the number of lollies and the total weight, then look at the amount per lolly if it’s shown on the packaging.
Brands to compare
Magnum
Ice cream lollies available in a range of recipes, including chocolate, caramel and mini assortments.
- According to Magnum, the Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate range includes 55 ml lollies.
- Ingredients and allergens vary by recipe; the ingredients in Magnum Almond don’t apply to the whole range.
Carrefour Sensation / Carrefour Extra
Ice lollies and ice cream bars sold under Carrefour’s own brands.
- Carrefour’s range includes recipes such as Double Chocolate and Vanilla, Chocolate and Almond.
- Check the product information or packaging for your chosen flavour to find out about its ingredients and allergens.
ECO+ (E.Leclerc)
One product with published details is a pack of six maxi ice lollies with vanilla, milk chocolate and almonds.
- E.Leclerc lists six lollies with a total weight of 480 g for this product.
- This recipe contains milk, soya and almonds, among other ingredients; this information doesn’t apply to other ECO+ products.
Auchan
Auchan’s ice lolly range includes both own-brand products and products from other brands.
- The Auchan recipes listed include vanilla and almond, pistachio and white chocolate flavours.
- Compare the ingredients and format of each product instead of assuming its ingredients from the flavour name alone.
MUCCI (ALDI)
An ALDI range of ice creams and sorbets that includes mini ice lollies.
- ALDI lists a MUCCI assortment of 12 chocolate-coated mini ice lollies with a total weight of 429 g.
- Check the product you want before you make a special trip: ALDI lists some other MUCCI ice lollies as unavailable.
Magnum ice lollies for a study break
This selection of Magnum products includes mini ice lollies, a mixed-flavour assortment and caramel recipes. Choose based on the format shown and the recipe you’re after, then check the label on the variant you select.
Image unavailable
Magnum Double Billionaire's Ice Bar Mini x6, 282 g
For a break when you’d prefer a mini-sized lolly with a caramel recipe.
Pack of six; stated total weight: 282 g. Check the amount per lolly, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Magnum Mini Deluxe Caramel Ice Bar x6, 330 g
For pairing a love of caramel with a lolly described as mini size.
Pack of six; stated total weight: 330 g. Check the packaging for the amount per lolly and allergen information.
Image unavailable
Magnum Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate x6, 254 g
For choosing a smaller treat while having several flavours to pick from in the box.
Assortment of six mini ice lollies; stated total weight: 254 g. Joybuy’s product information lists 248 kcal and 21 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the amount per lolly and the allergens for each flavour on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Magnum Double Gold Caramel 284 g
For a break where the caramel recipe matters more than choosing a mini format.
Stated total weight: 284 g. Check the number and size of the lollies on the pack before comparing it with a mini assortment.
Image unavailable
Magnum Deluxe Caramel x4, 284 g
For choosing caramel ice lollies individually rather than a mini assortment.
Pack of four; stated total weight: 284 g. Check the ingredients and allergens for this product on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How do you compare two boxes of ice lollies in different sizes?
Compare the nutritional values on the same basis, then check the amount per lolly and the number of lollies. The DGCCRF says that showing values per 100 g or 100 ml makes it easier to compare prepacked foods; the total weight of a box alone doesn’t tell you the size of each portion.
Does a mini ice lolly always contain less sugar?
No: ‘mini’ describes the size of the lolly, not its sugar content per 100 g. For the Magnum Mini Classic, Almond and White Chocolate assortment, Joybuy’s product information lists 21 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the amount per lolly too, to assess the portion you’ve chosen.
Are the allergens the same in every ice lolly from a brand?
No: check the information for the exact product and flavour. Carrefour’s product information for Magnum Almond lists milk and almonds, and warns that other nuts may also be present; this information shouldn’t be assumed to apply to other Magnum recipes.
Does the word ‘luxury’ tell you anything about nutritional values?
No: the word doesn’t replace the nutrition table. When choosing between two recipes, check the ingredients, the size of each lolly and the values per 100 g or 100 ml, rather than relying on the range name alone.