If you’re having an ice cream on your own during Music Day, start by choosing a portion you can eat quickly: a classic ice cream lolly for an individual serving, a mini lolly for a smaller portion, or an ice cream bar if you prefer that style. Then check how many are in the box, the ingredients and how you’ll keep the rest frozen. An individually portioned ice cream isn’t necessarily sold on its own.
If you’re buying an ice cream before or during Music Day, choose a portion you can eat straight away. For the journey, the DGCCRF recommends keeping the time frozen food spends in transit to a minimum and using an insulated bag.
A box lets everyone have their own portion, but the number of pieces and flavours vary by product. An assortment of mini lollies is a good choice if you’re after several smaller portions.
The flavour or a ‘plant-based’ label isn’t enough to help you choose. Magnum, for example, says its Vegan Almond lolly contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts. Always check the label for the exact product you’re buying.
Before heading out, decide when you’ll eat the ice cream and how you’ll store any portions left over. Then compare the size of each portion and the ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it frozen while you’re out | Check the pack instructions and plan to transport it in an insulated bag if you won’t be eating it straight away. The DGCCRF says ice cream and other frozen foods should be stored at −18 °C. | If I have to walk or wait before eating my ice cream, I want to be able to keep it frozen until then. Around 45% of consumers rank this as their main requirement. |
| Portion size and number of pieces | Compare the number of lollies or bars, as well as the weight or volume of each one. An individual portion may still be sold in a multipack. | If I only fancy one, I don’t want to mistake a small portion for a whole box that I’ll need to store or share. Format is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and ‘may contain’ warnings for the product you’re considering. Don’t assume they’re the same across different flavours. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the recipe name alone isn’t enough to help me decide. Ingredient suitability comes before other considerations for around 19% of consumers. |
An ice cream lolly is designed to be eaten on its own, but Carrefour and Auchan also stock boxes containing several lollies or bars. If you only fancy one, you could end up with extra portions to store.
Check how many pieces are in the box and the format of each one before you choose.
If you’re buying ice cream to eat later, it needs to stay frozen. The DGCCRF advises never refreezing food that has thawed.
Buy your ice cream last, keep the journey short and use an insulated bag or cool box if you won’t be eating it straight away.
Magnum’s Vegan Almond lolly contains almonds and, according to Magnum, may contain milk, soya and other nuts.
If you need to avoid certain foods, check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the label for the flavour and format you’ve chosen.
The range includes classic lollies, a plant-based almond option and an assortment of mini lollies.
Its Classic’ and Sensation ranges include lollies and ice cream bars in different formats.
Its range separates lollies, mini lollies and ice cream bars, making it easier to find the portion size you want.
This selection includes assorted mini lollies, melon lollies, chocolate, caramel and peanut ice cream bars, and water ice lollies. Each product is individually portioned, but all four options come in multipacks, so make sure you can keep any uneaten pieces frozen.
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Worth considering if you’d like a smaller portion or a few different flavours to share.
The box contains six mini lollies, with a stated total weight of 254 g. They aren’t sold individually.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the label for this specific assortment.
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This format is a good choice if you’re looking for individual melon portions for several people or occasions.
The box contains eight lollies, each measuring 70 ml. If you only want one while you’re out, you’ll also need to think about how to store the rest.
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This recipe is for anyone who’d prefer a chocolate, caramel and peanut ice cream bar over a classic lolly.
The multipack contains five bars, with a stated total weight of 204 g. It isn’t a single bar sold on its own.
Peanuts are named in the recipe, so check the exact label for other ingredients and allergen information.
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This assortment is a great way to offer individual portions and a choice of flavours to a group.
It contains 12 pieces, with a stated total weight of 1200 g. Choose it if you can keep any portions you don’t eat while you’re out frozen.
If you need to avoid certain foods, check the label for the exact product before buying.
Choose based on the portion size you want and when you’ll be able to eat it: a classic lolly for an individual serving, a mini lolly for a smaller portion, or an ice cream bar if that’s more your thing. Check how many pieces are in the pack too, as Carrefour and Auchan stock these formats in boxes.
Buy it last and keep it out of the freezer for as little time as possible. An insulated bag or cool box is best. The DGCCRF gives −18 °C as the storage temperature for ice cream and other frozen foods. If you won’t eat the portions straight away, make sure you can put them back in the freezer before they start to thaw.
No. The DGCCRF advises never refreezing food that has thawed. If you’re planning to save portions for later, work out how you’ll transport and store them frozen before you set off.
No. Magnum says its Vegan Almond lolly contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts. If you need to avoid certain foods, read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the label for the exact product.