Anyone looking to manage portion sizes
For a meal with others, individually wrapped ice lollies make it easy to decide how many to serve. Carrefour EXTRA, for example, lists eight 32 g sticks.
Who are these formats for?
Anyone planning dessert for a group
The number of lollies can help you choose a box that suits the number of guests. The MUCCI® product featured by ALDI contains twelve mini sticks.
Anyone taking guests’ allergies into account
Recipes can vary within an assortment. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the box before serving it to a group, especially if one of the recipes contains almonds.
What should you check?
For a dessert to share, work out how many lollies you’ll need, then check what one lolly represents in the nutritional information and whether each recipe is suitable for your guests.
| What to check | What to look for | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare energy, sugars and fat on the same basis. Check the weight or volume of one stick before interpreting the values per lolly. | I want to know what the lolly I’m planning to serve represents. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this per-item measure. |
| Number of lollies | Count the sticks in the box and compare that number with the number of guests, rather than relying on the total weight alone. | When I’m entertaining, I want to make sure there are enough lollies without choosing based only on the pack size; nearly 33% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| Ingredients and flavours | Read the ingredients and allergen information for each recipe in the assortment. | If guests have different preferences or allergies, I need to check which recipes I can serve them. Around 25% of consumers would put suitability first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘mini’ means a particular nutritional profile
‘Mini’ describes the format, not the sugar or fat content. Joybuy’s product listing for a 254 g Magnum Mini assortment gives 248 kcal, 21 g of sugars and 15 g of fat per 100 g for that product; these values don’t apply to other recipes.
Compare the nutritional information for the box you choose, then decide how many sticks to serve.
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Choosing based on pack weight alone
The total weight doesn’t tell you how many portions are inside. For example, Auchan lists a box of eight mini sticks weighing 258 g, while ALDI lists a MUCCI® product containing twelve.
Check the number of sticks first, then their individual weight if it’s listed.
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Overlooking allergens in an assortment
Recipes in the same box may contain different ingredients, particularly if one flavour contains almonds. You can’t tell whether a lolly is suitable for someone with an allergy just by looking at it.
Check the packaging information for each variety before serving the group.
Brands to know for these formats
Magnum
The Mini range includes sticks and assortments designed for sharing.
- Auchan, for example, lists a Magnum assortment of six mini sticks weighing 254 g.
- Nutritional information for one Magnum Mini product doesn’t automatically apply to other recipes in the range.
Carrefour
Carrefour EXTRA and SIMPL offer boxes of mini sticks with the number of lollies clearly stated.
- Carrefour EXTRA lists eight 32 g sticks; SIMPL offers a box of eight weighing 284 g.
- If you’re choosing an assortment, check the ingredients for the specific product, especially if anyone has an allergy.
Auchan
Auchan lists an assortment of eight frozen mini sticks weighing 258 g.
- The number of lollies and total weight help you plan how many to serve.
- Coatings may contain different ingredients, so check the allergen information for each recipe.
MUCCI® / ALDI
ALDI lists a box of twelve MUCCI® mini sticks in milk chocolate, white chocolate, almond and classic flavours.
- The number of lollies may suit a gathering with more guests.
- Check the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging before choosing this product for your guests.
Joybuy products to share
These individually portioned ice lollies and sorbets come in boxes of four, eight or twelve, making it easier to plan how many to serve. Choose a box to suit the number of guests, and check the nutritional information and ingredients for the product you pick.
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CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry Ice Pops, 12 pieces, 444 g
A box of twelve, ideal for serving several people.
If any of your guests have allergies, check the ‘may contain’ information on the packaging.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Coconut, 4 pieces, 280 g
Four coconut sorbet sticks for a group when you’ve planned how many to serve in advance.
Check the allergen information and storage instructions for this product on the packaging.
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Binggrae Melona Melon Ice Bar, 8 × 70 ml
Eight 70 ml sticks make it easy to count how many you’ll serve.
The recipe contains milk. To compare its portion with other products, check that the nutritional values are given on the same basis.
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Solero Berry Ice Cream Bars, 4 × 90 ml
Four 90 ml frozen bars for serving in measured portions.
The ingredients list includes milk; check the label if a guest needs to avoid it.
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Binggrae Melona Coconut Ice Cream Bar, 8 × 70 ml
A box of eight 70 ml sticks lets you plan one per guest, if this format suits your group.
Check the weight per stick before comparing the portion with nutritional values given per 100 g, and check the allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a ‘mini’ stick automatically better for portion control?
No. ‘Mini’ describes the format, but doesn’t tell you the nutritional values of one lolly. To plan your portion, compare the nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen with the weight or volume of each stick.
What should I check on the label of a box of ice lollies?
Start with the number of lollies, net quantity, ingredients and nutritional information. The DGCCRF lists these among the details shown on prepacked food labels. To compare two recipes, use the same basis, such as values per 100 g.
Can you serve an assortment to someone with a tree nut allergy?
Don’t rely on the assortment’s name alone: some of the recipes mentioned contain almonds, and one Magnum Mini product warns that it may contain nuts. Read the ingredients and warnings on the specific box before serving it, and offer an alternative if it isn’t suitable for your guest.