Who are these multipacks for?

Parents with a suitable way to keep food cold

You can check the transport and storage conditions right up until the ice lolly is eaten. Only once you’ve done that does the pack size become a useful factor when choosing something for a lunchbox.

Families who pay close attention to allergens

You’ll need to check the exact recipe and any precautionary allergen information. The chocolate assortments listed by Carrefour, Auchan and Magnum contain milk; some recipes also contain almonds or warn that they may contain other nuts.

Households looking to share several portions

You’re looking for small ice creams to share between several people or save for different occasions. The products listed by Carrefour, Auchan, Twister and Magnum include boxes of 6 or 8, for example. The number of sticks alone doesn’t tell you what they contain.

What should you check before choosing?

For a lunchbox, start by checking storage conditions and the school’s rules. Then compare the recipes and number of portions.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Keeping it cold Compare the temperature stated on the pack with the actual transport and storage conditions up to the point of consumption. Check the school’s rules too. If I’m planning to pack an ice lolly for lunch, I need to know where it will be kept cold during the morning. Around 50% of consumers would put this practical consideration first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and precautionary allergen information for every recipe in the pack, particularly for milk, almonds, other nuts and soya. If a recipe needs to avoid a specific ingredient, I can’t rely on the flavour shown on the box alone. This would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Portions and variety Check the number of pieces, the stated size of each lolly and the recipes included in the assortment. If I’m sharing the pack at home, I want portions and flavours that suit the people who’ll be eating them. Around 20% of consumers would put this choice of format first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming a fruity ice lolly is dairy-free

    The product information for Twister Mini pineapple-strawberry-lemon says it may contain traces of almonds and milk.

    If you need to avoid these ingredients, check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information on the exact pack rather than relying on the flavour.

  • Assuming a mini format is easier to transport

    The Twister and Magnum products listed by Auchan state that they should be stored at −18 °C. The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature can make food riskier; a small ice lolly is no exception.

    Check the journey, storage options, time of consumption and the school’s rules. If you can’t maintain the required temperature, choose a non-frozen dessert for the lunchbox.

    An insulated bag and ice packs mean carrying extra kit, but they don’t prove on their own that the required temperature will be maintained.

  • Checking only one recipe in the assortment

    The assortments described by Carrefour, Auchan and Magnum contain different recipes. Whether they include almonds or soya varies between lollies.

    Read the information for every flavour before choosing a pack for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients.

Brands to compare for different formats

Magnum

The product listed by Auchan is an assortment of 6 mini ice cream sticks, each 55 ml, with Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours.

  • Three flavours in a pack of 6.
  • Contains milk. Check the information about almonds and pistachios on the pack you choose. Storage temperature stated as −18 °C.

Carrefour

The SIMPL product listed by Carrefour is an assortment of 8 mini ice cream sticks, with a total weight of 284 g.

  • Eight pieces to share between several people or occasions.
  • The recipes contain milk. The assortment includes an almond recipe and warns that it may contain traces of other nuts.

Auchan

An assortment of 8 mini ice cream sticks weighing 258 g, with several chocolate coatings.

  • The number of pieces makes it easy to compare this format with other boxes of 8.
  • The listed recipes contain milk; one includes almonds and some contain soya.

Twister

A pack of 8 fruit-flavoured mini ice lollies, each 50 ml, listed by Auchan.

  • A recipe type to consider if you’d prefer a water ice to vanilla-and-chocolate sticks.
  • The product information says “May contain: almonds, milk” and states a storage temperature of −18 °C.

Marque Repère / E.Leclerc

E.Leclerc lists, among other products, an assortment of 20 Smicy ice cream sticks, with a total weight of 850 g.

  • A large number of pieces to consider if you’re sharing them at home.
  • Before considering it for a lunchbox, check the ingredients, allergens and size of the sticks in the product you choose.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you put an ice lolly in a secondary school lunchbox?

Yes, but only if the actual transport and storage conditions allow you to maintain the cold chain and the temperature required by the product until it’s eaten. The Twister and Magnum products listed by Auchan state that they should be stored at −18 °C. Check the school’s rules and storage options too.

Is a fruit water ice always dairy-free?

No. The product information for Twister Mini pineapple-strawberry-lemon says “May contain: almonds, milk”. If you need to avoid an ingredient, follow the information on the exact product, not its category or flavour.

Which allergens should you check in a chocolate assortment?

Depending on the recipes, check for milk, almonds, other nuts and soya in particular. The information varies between the assortments described by Carrefour, Auchan and Magnum. For prepacked food in France, the DGCCRF says that allergenic ingredients must be emphasised in the ingredients list.

Can a school set rules for food brought in from home?

Yes. As the French Ministry of National Education explains, each school’s internal rules set out how it is run and how people are expected to behave. Check your school’s rules and ask how food brought in from home, and any cold storage it may need, is handled.

Is the number of pieces enough to choose a multipack?

No. It helps you plan how to share the pack, but you should also compare portion sizes, recipes and allergens. A box of 8 won’t automatically suit your needs better than a box of 6. For a lunchbox, storage conditions remain crucial, whatever the format.