If you want to offer a breakfast treat without needing a freezer, choose a box of chocolates rather than ice lollies: ice lollies are frozen desserts. Ice lolly sticks or other individual frozen treats could be suitable after breakfast if they can be stored correctly. In either case, check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you buy.
If you want to leave a treat at breakfast or give someone chocolates without needing a freezer, look for a proper box of confectionery. A frozen ice lolly, even one coated in chocolate, is not the same thing.
Individual frozen treats could be served after breakfast if you have a freezer that can meet the storage instructions for the product you choose. The box size and allergen information also matter when it comes to serving them.
Recipes vary from one box of chocolates or ice cream to another. Read the label on the product you buy, paying particular attention to milk, soya, wheat and nuts where these ingredients or possible traces are listed.
Choose this for: a gift or a treat to leave at breakfast, without serving anything frozen.
Keep in mind: a box of confectionery is not a substitute for a frozen dessert.
Consider this for: serving frozen sticks, bites or cones when suitable storage is available.
Keep in mind: these products are not a box of non-frozen chocolates to give as a gift.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Product category | Check the product description: is it a box of chocolates or a frozen dessert? A chocolate coating alone does not make an ice lolly a box of confectionery. | I want to give someone something that can be left at breakfast without being served frozen; around 50% of consumers would put this need for a gift box first. |
| Storage and portions | For ice cream, check the number of pieces and the storage and defrosting instructions for the specific product. | If I’m planning an individual dessert after breakfast, I need to be able to store it until it’s served; this would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, the allergens highlighted and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging you buy. | When I’m choosing for several people, I want to know first which ingredients could be a problem; around 17% of consumers would prioritise this check. |
Magnum sticks and similar frozen products are desserts that need to be kept frozen, not assortments of confectionery to leave as a gift.
If you’re looking for a gift, check that the product description clearly says it is a box or selection of chocolates.
Auchan says its white chocolate ice lolly product should be kept in the freezer at −18 °C and specifies that it must not be refrozen after defrosting.
Before you buy, make sure you can follow the instructions on the product you plan to serve; don’t assume they’re the same as those for another ice cream.
The recipe for Magnum Bonbon Chocolat Blanc & Cookie x12 includes milk, wheat and soya, among other ingredients, and may contain traces of other allergens.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for every product you plan to serve to guests or customers.
A frozen dessert brand with products including sticks, tubs and bites; its products are not boxes of non-frozen chocolates.
The retailer lists Magnum ice creams in its frozen food section, while boxes of chocolates are in a separate category.
The retailer sells frozen sticks under its own brand, intended as a dessert rather than a chocolate gift.
An E.Leclerc brand that includes boxes of frozen sticks containing several portions.
An ice cream and sorbet brand sold by ALDI, with products including sticks and other frozen formats.
This selection includes an assortment of confectionery to consider as a non-frozen treat, as well as individual frozen desserts to serve if you have a freezer. The last product is a cone, not an ice lolly on a stick.
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A box of confectionery to consider as a gift or for sharing, without serving anything frozen. If each piece needs to be handed out individually at the hotel, check how it is packaged before you buy. Also check the label for allergen information.
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Individual frozen portions to serve after breakfast, rather than a box of chocolates. Store this product as instructed and do not refreeze it after defrosting. Check the label, particularly for peanuts and milk.
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Four frozen portions to consider if you have a freezer, rather than a non-frozen chocolate gift. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and check the allergen information for the product you buy.
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A pack of six individual frozen desserts to serve if you can store them correctly. The instructions for this product say not to refreeze it after defrosting. Check its allergen information too before serving it to several people.
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A different kind of individual frozen dessert: these are cones, not sticks or a box of chocolates. Make sure you have freezer storage and check the packaging for instructions after defrosting, as well as allergen information.
No. Magnum describes Bonbon Chocolat Blanc & Cookie x12 as vanilla ice cream with cookie sauce. For a non-frozen gift, look for a product clearly described as a box or selection of chocolates.
Make sure you can follow the storage instructions for the ice lollies you choose. For its white chocolate ice lolly product, Auchan requires freezer storage at −18 °C and says not to refreeze it after defrosting. Check the packaging for every other product rather than applying these instructions to them.
Yes. In France, allergen information is also required for processed foods served in catering establishments. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that allergens in prepacked products must be emphasised in the ingredients list. Different information requirements apply to foods served without their packaging.
No. The requirements depend, among other things, on whether the food is prepacked. You can check the ingredients on the label of a sealed box. For portions served at a buffet, the establishment must make sure allergen information is available for the foods actually being offered, in line with the rules that apply to this type of service in France.