For a little frozen treat
You’d like an individual ice lolly rather than a dessert to share, and can eat it as soon as it comes out of the freezer. For example, Magnum France lists its Mini Classic as a 55 ml portion.
Who is this guide for?
For comparing nutritional values
You check the information per portion, rather than relying on the front of the box. A fruity ice lolly labelled ‘no added sugar’ may still contain sugars: Auchan’s product details list 11 g per 60 g mango and passion fruit lolly.
For checking allergens
Before choosing, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ information for the specific product. Depending on the product, you may need to look out for milk, nuts, soya, peanuts or cereals containing gluten.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the size of the ice lolly and how many you’re likely to use. Then check the nutritional values per portion, allergens and storage instructions. A mini lolly and a fruity recipe won’t necessarily meet the same needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portion | The volume or weight of one ice lolly, and the sugars and saturated fatty acids per portion. | For an occasional treat, I’d rather know how much is in one lolly than go by the number in the box. Around 36% of consumers might put this indulgent portion at the top of their list of priorities. |
| Nutritional profile | The energy, fat and ‘of which sugars’ values per portion; check the ingredients if the box says ‘no added sugar’. | If I’m comparing a fruity recipe with a creamy ice lolly, I want to check their values per portion without assuming that one is sugar-free. This would be the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens | The ingredients, declared allergens and ‘may contain’ information on the packaging of the pack you buy. | If an ingredient or possible trace is a concern, I need to check the exact recipe before thinking about the flavour or size. Checking allergens would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Multipack and storage | The number of lollies, the quantity per lolly, freezer space and storage instructions. | If I’m only having one this morning, I need to be able to store the rest of the pack as directed. Around 14% of consumers would put managing the multipack and keeping it cold first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing ‘no added sugar’ with ‘sugar-free’
Auchan’s mango and passion fruit lolly is labelled ‘no added sugar’, but its product details list 11 g of sugars per 60 g portion.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ value for one lolly and the ingredients list, rather than stopping at the claim on the front of the pack.
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Choosing a coating without checking the allergens
The recipes reviewed don’t all list the same ingredients and possible traces: depending on the product, these may include milk, nuts, soya, peanuts or cereals containing gluten.
If you need to avoid an ingredient, check the packaging of the exact product, even if you know the brand or have bought a different recipe before.
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Buying a large multipack for a snack when you can’t keep it cold
A multipack only makes sense if you can put the remaining lollies back in the freezer. The Auchan ice lolly product details reviewed say to store at −18 °C and not to refreeze a product once it has defrosted.
If you’re having a snack on the go or somewhere without a freezer, choose something that doesn’t need to be kept cold.
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Comparing packs by the number of lollies alone
A pack of four, six or twelve doesn’t tell you how big each portion is, what the recipe contains or its nutritional values.
Compare the quantity per lolly, then its nutritional information, allergens and whether you have room to store it at home.
Brands and retailers to compare
Magnum
The range includes classic and mini ice lollies. For an individual treat, Magnum France lists the Mini Classic as a 55 ml portion.
- Magnum France provides nutritional values per lolly, making it easy to compare this portion with others.
- The Mini Classic contains 12 g of sugars and 6 g of saturated fatty acids per portion. It contains milk and may contain nuts. This information doesn’t apply to the whole range.
Auchan
The Auchan products reviewed include a mango and passion fruit lolly and a pack of twelve vanilla lollies. They’re different recipes and pack sizes, so check which one you’re buying.
- The mango and passion fruit lolly product details list 56 kcal and 11 g of sugars per 60 g portion.
- The ‘no added sugar’ claim on this product doesn’t mean it’s sugar-free. Check the allergens for the recipe you choose, too.
Carrefour
One of the products listed by Carrefour is a box of four 100 ml Magnum Almond ice lollies.
- The product details list the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values to check before you choose.
- At 100 ml per lolly, this isn’t the same size as the 55 ml Magnum Mini Classic. Don’t assume that the nutritional values per portion are the same.
Ice lollies to consider on Joybuy
This selection includes fruity ice lollies, a mini ice cream and other packs of individual portions. For a mid-morning treat, choose a lolly to suit your craving and make sure you have room in the freezer for the rest of the pack.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Mango, 4 pieces, 280 g
A mango-flavoured ice lolly to consider if you’d like an individual frozen treat and can keep the rest in the freezer.
Before comparing this recipe with other fruity options, check the sugars per lolly and the allergen information on the packaging.
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CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry Ice Pops, 12 pieces, 444 g
This pack of orange and cherry ice pops works for an individual treat if you have a freezer for the remaining pops.
The pack contains twelve pops. Check the portion size on the packaging and the allergen information for this product.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Coconut, 4 pieces, 280 g
This coconut recipe comes with four individual ice lollies to keep for a few frozen treats.
Don’t assume its nutritional values are the same as a mango lolly. Check the fat and saturated fatty acids per portion on the label, and check the allergens too.
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Binggrae Melona Coconut Ice Cream Bar, 8 × 70 ml
The pack of eight individual bars is handy for several treats at home, as long as you have space in the freezer.
To compare one bar with other ice creams, check its nutritional values per bar on the packaging rather than treating the values per 100 g as a portion. Check the ingredients list and allergens too.
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Magnum Mini Classic, 6 × 55 ml
The mini size lets you enjoy a creamy 55 ml ice lolly as an individual treat.
Magnum France lists 12 g of sugars and 6 g of saturated fatty acids per Mini Classic lolly. The recipe contains milk and may contain almonds. Check the label and the storage instructions on the pack you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is an ice lolly suitable for a mid-morning snack?
It can satisfy an occasional ice cream craving if you can eat it straight away and keep the rest of the pack cold. For a snack to take with you when you don’t have access to a freezer, Manger Bouger suggests options such as fruit or bread in the morning. Yoghurt also needs to be stored as directed.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean ‘sugar-free’?
No. This claim doesn’t mean a fruity ice lolly contains no sugars. Auchan’s mango and passion fruit lolly product details list 11 g of sugars per 60 g portion. Check the nutritional information and ingredients for the recipe you’re buying.
How should you store a pack of ice lollies?
Follow the instructions on the packaging. The two Auchan products reviewed say to store in the freezer at −18 °C and not to refreeze a product once it has defrosted. Check the instructions for your own pack before planning to take it with you.
Where can you check the allergens in a pre-packed ice lolly in France?
Check the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information on the packaging of the product you’ve bought. The Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control says that allergenic ingredients must be emphasised on food labels. Don’t rely on the ingredients for a different recipe from the same brand.