For a train journey, choose an individual ice lolly as a dessert rather than as a meal in its own right: Anses bases its dietary guidance on a varied diet. You’ll also need to keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it. DGCCRF recommends using an insulated bag and keeping transport time as short as possible.
You’ve already planned your meal and would like to finish with a frozen treat, as long as you can keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it. DGCCRF reminds consumers that the cold chain must also be maintained during transport.
You’re looking for vanilla ice cream coated in chocolate rather than a fruit-flavoured recipe. If allergens are a concern, check the ingredients for the specific product you choose: Carrefour’s Magnum Classic listing states that it contains milk and may contain traces of nuts.
You’re planning to share a box or keep some lollies for another occasion. Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Auchan catalogues offer different pack sizes, and any uneaten lollies will need to go back in the freezer.
First decide whether the ice lolly is a dessert or whether you still need something to make up your meal. If you’re taking one with you, check how it should be stored, what’s in it and how many portions you’re buying.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Meal and transport | Plan your meal separately. For the ice lolly, follow the storage temperature on the packaging and make sure you can keep it cold during transport. | If I’m mainly looking for lunch during the journey, I don’t want to rely on a frozen dessert for the whole meal. Around 36% of consumers would put meal and transport needs first. |
| Chocolate-coated ice cream | Check the size of the ice lolly, its ingredients and the allergens in the specific recipe. | If I want to finish my meal with vanilla ice cream coated in chocolate, I’ll choose a recipe I like while taking its ingredients into account. This would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Fruit flavour | Check the product name and ingredients: a fruit flavour doesn’t necessarily mean it’s milk-free. | I prefer fruit flavour to a chocolate coating, but I want to know exactly what’s in the ice lolly. Around 21% of consumers would make this their main criterion. |
| Number of portions | Compare the number and size of the lollies, and make sure you can store any that are left in the box. | If several people will be having one, or I’m planning to save them for another occasion, a box of several lollies could suit my needs. Around 14% of consumers would put pack size ahead of other criteria. |
An ice lolly can make a tasty dessert, but it can’t replace a varied meal on its own. Anses reminds us of the importance of eating a range of foods.
Plan your meal separately and only take an ice lolly if you can keep it properly stored until you’re ready to eat it.
DGCCRF says the cold chain must also be maintained during transport and recommends using an insulated bag and keeping transport time as short as possible.
Follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging. If you can’t keep the product frozen until you’re ready to eat it, choose a different dessert for the journey.
Fruit recipes can also contain dairy ingredients: Carrefour’s listing for Solero Exotic Fruits and Auchan’s listing for mini fruit lollies both state that they contain milk and lactose.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the box you’re buying, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
An ice lolly can be intended for one person but still be sold in a box containing several portions. Carrefour and E.Leclerc catalogues feature different pack sizes.
Check how many lollies are in the box and make sure you can put any uneaten portions back in the freezer promptly.
Chocolate-coated ice cream bars, usually sold in multipacks. Carrefour lists Magnum Classic in a box of four 100 mL bars.
Carrefour’s Exotic Fruits variety combines vanilla ice cream, a sauce and a fruit coating in 90 mL bars.
Carrefour Classic’, Carrefour Sensation and Carrefour Extra ranges include ice cream bars and frozen treats in different pack sizes.
The E.Leclerc catalogue features Trium ice cream bars, including a vanilla variety coated in milk chocolate and almonds, sold in a box of four.
Auchan’s range includes mini fruit lollies and fruit sorbet lollies.
These boxes offer frozen treats with chocolate, fruit, coconut or banana flavours. For a meal on the train, treat them as desserts and only take them with you if you can keep them frozen until you’re ready to eat them.
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A frozen dessert with red berry flavours, if you can keep the lollies frozen during transport.
Box of four 90 mL portions. Check the ingredients and allergen information for this recipe on the packaging.
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A vanilla dessert coated in white chocolate and almonds, provided you can keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it.
Box of four 100 mL bars. Check the allergen information on the packaging before choosing this recipe.
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A coconut sorbet after your meal, if you can keep it cold during the journey.
Box of four sticks, 280 g in total. Check the ingredients, allergens and portion packaging on the box.
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A small orange and cherry ice pop, as long as you can keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it.
Box of twelve portions, 444 g in total. Make sure you can store any remaining portions in the freezer.
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A banana-flavoured frozen dessert, if you can keep it cold during the journey and store the remaining bars.
Box of eight 70 mL portions. Check the packaging for the ingredients and allergen information for this product.
No. It’s best to have it as a dessert and plan your meal separately. Anses bases its dietary guidance on a varied diet, and taking an ice lolly with you also means you’ll need to keep it frozen until you’re ready to eat it.
Follow the storage temperature on the packaging and don’t rely on an ordinary bag to keep ice cream frozen. DGCCRF recommends using an insulated bag and keeping transport time as short as possible. The Magnum Classic and Solero Exotic Fruits listings state that they should be stored at −18 °C.
No. Carrefour’s listing for Solero Exotic Fruits and Auchan’s listing for mini fruit lollies both state that they contain milk and lactose. Read the ingredients list for the recipe you’re thinking of buying.
Check the information for the specific recipe. Carrefour’s Magnum Classic listing states that it contains dairy ingredients and may contain traces of several types of nuts. Recipes can change, so check the label on the box you choose.
Not necessarily: an individual ice lolly may be part of a box containing several portions. Check how many lollies are in the box before you buy, and make sure you can put any uneaten ones back in the freezer.