When choosing an after-school snack for a child, first check which allergens need to be avoided, then check how much ice cream each lolly contains: the word “mini” isn’t enough to tell you the portion size. A fruity lolly or an ice lolly may suit a different craving from a creamy recipe, but neither the flavour nor the category guarantees that it’s free from milk or other allergens.
If a child needs to avoid milk or another allergen, choose based on the label for the specific recipe, not its name or picture. Product information from Magnum France and Auchan France gives examples of lollies containing milk; other allergens or traces are listed depending on the product.
The weight or volume per lolly can help you choose a suitable amount for snack time. For example, Magnum France lists its Mini Double Chocolat as 60 ml and 50 g per lolly; don’t assume the same quantity applies to other mini lollies.
The number of lollies matters just as much as their size if several children are sharing a box or you’re planning snacks for different days. Compare the flavours too: every lolly needs to be suitable for the children who will eat it.
Worth considering: if you’re looking for a smaller lolly and can compare the stated quantity.
Keep in mind: “mini” says nothing about allergens. Magnum France lists milk in its Mini Double Chocolat, which may also contain traces of soya and almonds.
Worth considering: if this is the recipe you want and its ingredients are suitable for your child.
Keep in mind: a standard-sized lolly isn’t necessarily heavier than a mini one. Auchan France lists a box of four Kinder lollies as weighing 152 g.
Worth considering: if you’d prefer a fruity flavour to a creamy recipe.
Keep in mind: these terms don’t all mean the same thing. Check the ingredients and allergens for the flavour you choose; don’t assume a product is milk-free just because it features fruit.
Once you’ve chosen the type of lolly, three checks can help you compare products for snack time.
| What to compare | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | The ingredients, highlighted allergens and any “may contain” statements on the packaging for the flavour you’re buying. | If a child needs to avoid milk or another allergen, rule out any unsuitable recipe before choosing a size. Around 45% of consumers would make allergen suitability their top priority. |
| Portion size | The weight or volume per lolly; if that isn’t given, check the total weight and number of lollies. | For a small snack, I want to know how much is in each lolly rather than rely on the word “mini”. This size would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Sharing a box | The number of lollies and the flavours the children can actually eat. | If you’re planning several snack times, look for a box where everyone in the household can enjoy each lolly. Packaging choice would come first for around 22% of consumers. |
Size doesn’t change the ingredients: according to Magnum France, Mini Double Chocolat contains milk and may contain soya and almonds.
Check the ingredients and any “may contain” statements, then compare portion sizes separately.
A larger pack won’t suit your plans if some of the flavours aren’t suitable for the children who are going to eat them.
Check the number of lollies, their size and the ingredients for each recipe in the selection.
A box that’s too large can also leave you with unused portions.
Freezer aisles include fruity lollies, sorbets, ice lollies and milk-based recipes. The flavour alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the product.
Read the product description and the label for the specific item before offering it to a child who needs to avoid an allergen.
The storage instructions for the Yeti lolly featured by Auchan France say to protect it from thawing and not to refreeze it once thawed.
Plan your journey home so you can get it into the freezer, and follow the instructions on the box you buy.
The range includes mini chocolate-coated lollies. Magnum France lists its Mini Double Chocolat as 60 ml and 50 g per lolly.
Carrefour France’s range includes Carrefour Classic' and Carrefour Sensation lollies in boxes of different sizes.
E.Leclerc offers lollies from its ranges, including Marque Repère and Trium, in a choice of pack sizes.
Auchan France’s range includes fruity lollies, ice creams for children and chocolatey milk-based recipes.
Aldi France’s range includes a pack of four Mucci ice lollies.
This selection includes creamy lollies, fruity ice lollies and sorbets in individual portions. Compare the quantity per lolly and the label for each recipe before choosing one for a child.
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At 60 ml each, these lollies make it easy to choose how much to serve at snack time. If your child needs to avoid milk, nuts or peanuts, check the ingredients and any “may contain” statements on the exact packaging.
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This box of twelve is handy for snacks on several occasions and weighs 444 g in total. Before serving these lollies to a child with an allergy, check in particular for information about milk, soya, peanuts and nuts.
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This mango sorbet comes in a pack of four lollies. Check the ingredients rather than assuming the fruity flavour tells you which allergens it contains. The product description advises against serving it to children under 36 months and warns that it may contain traces, including milk, soya and nuts.
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At 55 ml per lolly, the volume gives you a useful guide when choosing a smaller portion. This vanilla recipe coated in milk chocolate needs careful checking if your child needs to avoid milk or soya, or may be affected by traces of almonds.
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This box of eight mini sorbets includes two fruity flavours. To compare portion sizes accurately, check the weight of each lolly on the box. If your child has an allergy, also check the ingredients and any “may contain” statements for each recipe.
No. Marketing aimed at children doesn’t tell you what a product contains. For example, Auchan France lists milk and soya in the product information for its Kinder lollies. Always check the label on the product you buy.
Compare the stated weight or volume per lolly rather than relying on the terms “mini” and “standard”. Magnum France lists its Mini Double Chocolat as 60 ml and 50 g. If a box only shows the total weight, dividing it by the number of lollies gives you an average, which may not be the portion size stated in the nutritional information.
Not if the product instructions say not to refreeze it. The product information for the Yeti lolly featured by Auchan France says to store it at a temperature of no more than −18 °C, protect it from thawing and not refreeze it once thawed.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’ve actually bought. If it matters for your child, check for any “may contain” statements too: two flavours in the same range may have different ingredients.