Someone who wants to avoid leftovers
You want an ice lolly to enjoy during the film, without having to store a large box. First, check whether your store sells individual lollies. If not, compare the number of lollies in the smallest multipacks.
Who is this option for?
Someone who puts flavour first
You don’t mind keeping a few lollies in the freezer if you like the recipe. Magnum’s Classic, for example, comes in a box of four, while its selection of six mini lollies includes Classic, Almond and White Chocolate flavours.
Someone who checks the ingredients
You may need to check certain ingredients or allergens, or want to compare the sugar and fat content. Read the ingredients list and nutritional information for the exact lolly you’re considering, rather than relying on the flavour name alone.
What should you look for first?
For a one-off film night, first decide whether you can store any lollies left over. Then choose a flavour and check the label on the product you’ve picked.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of lollies | Check whether the lolly is sold individually or in a box, then look at the number of lollies and the quantity per lolly. | I only want to buy one lolly for the film and don’t want to store the rest: around 36% of consumers put the quantity they’re buying first. |
| Flavour and portion size | Compare the flavours actually included and the size of each lolly; mini lollies are sometimes still sold in multipacks. | If I’m going to keep the other lollies, I’d rather choose a flavour and portion size I like. Taste is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings. Check the nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml and, where shown on the packaging, per portion. | Before choosing, I need to know exactly what’s in the lolly. For around 28% of consumers, ingredients and nutritional information come first. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming ‘individual portion’ means ‘sold individually’
You can eat a mini lolly on its own, but it may be packaged with several others. For example, Magnum’s mini selection contains six lollies.
Check the number of lollies shown on the box. If you only want to buy one, check what your store offers before you make the trip.
A multipack also means storing any lollies left over in the freezer.
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Judging allergens by flavour alone
Ingredients and traces can vary between recipes, even among lollies from the same brand.
Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging of the exact product, particularly if you need to avoid milk or nuts.
Brands to know when comparing formats
Magnum
Chocolate-coated lollies, including the Classic format and mini selections.
- Magnum Ice Cream France provides portion sizes and nutritional information for Classic x4. Its Classic, Almond and White Chocolate mini selection contains six 55 ml lollies.
- Both products are multipacks, so an individual portion doesn’t mean you can buy just one.
Carrefour
The retailer offers several ice lolly formats, including mini selections.
- Carrefour France lists, among other products, a selection of twelve mini lollies, worth considering if you’d like several smaller portions.
- If you only want one lolly, check the packaging and what your store offers before choosing a box.
E.Leclerc / Marque Repère
Multipacks of lollies to compare if you can store several in the freezer.
- E.Leclerc’s range includes Trium vanilla lollies with milk chocolate coating and almonds, in a box of four weighing 314 g.
- This pack isn’t suitable if you strictly want to buy one lolly. Check the ingredients of the box you choose.
ALDI / Mucci
Lollies and mini lollies in multipacks of different sizes.
- ALDI France offers Mucci lollies in packs of four and mini lollies in packs of twelve.
- Pack sizes and availability can vary by product and store, so check the details before you buy.
Auchan
An option to consider when comparing flavours in a selection for several occasions.
- Auchan lists an eight-piece Magnum selection featuring Almond, Classic, White Chocolate and Double Caramel, among other flavours.
- Eight lollies make this a larger purchase than a single portion for your film night.
Ice lollies on Joybuy
These sorbets and ice lollies come in boxes containing several pieces. If you’re planning to have one during the film and save the rest, compare the number of lollies and the quantity shown on each box.
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POP FRUIT 100% Lemon Sorbet Sticks, 4 pieces, 280 g
Worth considering if you’d like lemon sorbet and can store the other lollies. The box contains four pieces weighing 280 g in total, so they aren’t sold individually. Check the allergen information on the packaging if relevant to you.
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POP POLO Water Ice Lollies, 5 flavours, 10 pieces, 700 g
Worth considering if you’d like a choice of flavours and have room to store a box of ten lollies. The total weight is listed as 700 g, so this isn’t a single-lolly purchase. If you need to avoid certain allergens, check the label on the exact product and any information about the manufacturing facility.
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Solero Berry Ice Cream Bars, 4 × 90 ml
A box to consider if you’d like a red berry ice lolly and can keep three for later. It contains four lollies of 90 ml each, rather than one sold individually. Check the packaging for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information that matter to you.
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Binggrae Melona Melon Ice Bar, 8 × 70 ml
Worth considering if you’re looking for a melon ice lolly and can store a box of eight. Each lolly is listed as 70 ml, and they aren’t sold individually. The product description lists milk and the colour E102, along with a warning about children’s activity and attention. Read the label on the exact product, including the allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How can I compare the nutritional information for two different-sized lollies?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g or 100 ml, then check the quantity in each lolly. The DGCCRF explains that information per 100 g or 100 ml makes comparisons easier. Where a value per portion is provided, it reflects the serving size for that particular product.
Can I identify allergens in an ice lolly by its flavour alone?
No. Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging for the exact product. The DGCCRF explains that allergens present in the ingredients must be highlighted. The Magnum Classic x4 product information, for example, lists milk and possible traces of several nuts.
How should I store any lollies left after the film?
Follow the storage instructions on the box you buy, and keep the lollies cold on the way home from the shops. As an example for this specific product, Joybuy’s listing for a Magnum Almond multipack says to store it at −18 °C. Check the instructions on your own packaging.