Hiker with a cool box
You’re planning to enjoy an ice lolly at the start or end of your hike, or during a picnic, and can keep it cold until your break. The DGCCRF recommends taking a cool box for food that needs to be kept cold at a picnic.
Who is this a good choice for?
Walker without a way to keep food cold
You want to pop a snack in your bag to eat later along the way. An ice lolly, even if individually wrapped, isn’t suitable for this unless you can keep it cold.
Shopping for a single portion
You’re looking for a portion that’s right for one person. Compare mini and standard sizes, then check how many are in the box, along with the ingredients and allergens in your chosen recipe.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether you can keep the lolly cold until your break. It only makes sense to choose between a mini and standard size once you’ve sorted this out.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it cold | The storage instructions on the packaging and whether you can keep the lolly cold until you’re ready to eat it. | I want to enjoy an ice lolly during a break, but I need to be able to store it properly until then; around 50% of consumers would make keeping it cold their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list and allergens shown for the exact product, rather than relying on the flavour alone. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the exact recipe matters more than how the lolly looks; for around 30% of consumers, this would be the most important factor. |
| Portion and box | The weight or volume of each lolly and the number in the box. | For a single break, I want a portion that suits me without buying more lollies than I can store; around 20% of consumers would prioritise this choice of size. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘individually wrapped’ means ‘safe to carry without keeping cold’
Individual wrapping keeps portions separate, but it doesn’t change the storage requirements of a frozen product. Without a cool box that can keep it cold until your break, an ice lolly isn’t suitable as a snack to carry in your bag while walking.
Save your lolly for a break near a freezer, or for a picnic where you’ve arranged to keep it cold. Otherwise, choose a non-frozen snack.
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Assuming you can refreeze a thawed lolly
According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, refreezing a thawed product can encourage the growth of bacteria, among other things.
Only take portions that you can keep cold, and don’t put a thawed lolly back in the freezer.
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Guessing the allergens from the flavour or picture
Ingredients vary between recipes. Products listed by Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Auchan may contain milk or nuts, depending on the product.
Check the ingredients list and allergens on the packaging of the product you actually buy.
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Confusing an individual portion with a single-item pack
A lolly can be individually wrapped but still sold in a box containing several. Magnum Mini Classic and Carrefour Extra products listed by their respective brands are sold in packs of six and four respectively.
Check the size of each portion, the number of lollies and the space available in your freezer before choosing a box.
Ice lolly brands to know
Magnum
A range of chocolate-coated ice lollies, including mini sizes.
- Magnum’s Mini Classic comes in a box of 6 × 55 ml, with vanilla ice cream coated in milk chocolate.
- Mini lollies are still frozen products, so you’ll need to keep them cold during transport.
Carrefour Classic’, Simpl’ et Carrefour Extra
Own-brand ranges to compare by recipe, portion size and number of lollies.
- Carrefour lists, among other options, a Simpl’ box of 16 lollies weighing 33.5 g each and a Carrefour Extra box of 4 lollies weighing 75 g each.
- Check the ingredients list and allergens for each product.
ECO+ (E.Leclerc)
Multi-pack boxes to consider if you’d also like to keep some portions in the freezer after your outing.
- E.Leclerc lists, among other options, a box of 16 ECO+ vanilla and chocolate lollies, weighing 536 g in total.
- Ingredients vary by recipe. One ECO+ maxi-lolly product listed by E.Leclerc contains almonds.
Auchan et Pouce
Assorted or vanilla and chocolate lollies to compare by ingredients and packaging.
- Auchan lists an assortment of 12 lollies, and Pouce also offers a box of 12.
- The Auchan assortment’s product information states that it should be stored at −18 °C and not refrozen after thawing.
MUCCI (ALDI)
A range of ice creams and sorbets from ALDI, worth a look if you’re comparing different frozen dessert recipes.
- ALDI describes MUCCI as a range that includes a variety of ice cream and sorbet flavours.
- Check the recipe and packaging of the product you’re interested in before choosing.
Ice lollies to consider on Joybuy
These frozen products are suited to an ice-lolly break if you can arrange to keep them cold. Pack sizes vary: ‘individual portion’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘a box of one’.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Coconut, x4, 280 g
Worth considering for a break if you can keep them cold. The box contains four sorbet sticks; if your choice depends on it, check the ingredients and allergens listed on the packaging.
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Binggrae Melona Melon, 8 × 70 ml
A treat for an ice-lolly break if you can keep them cold during transport. The box contains eight lollies, each 70 ml; check the ingredients list for the product you buy before serving.
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Magnum Mini Classic, 6 × 55 ml
The mini size gives you a 55 ml portion for a break, provided you can keep it cold. The box contains six lollies; check the allergens and storage instructions on the packaging.
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Maison de la Glace Water Ice Pops, 5 parfums, x12, 1 200 g
Worth considering for a break with a cool box if you’re looking for a multi-pack. The pack contains twelve lollies in five flavours; check the packaging for the size of each portion and the allergens in each recipe.
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Bamboo Tree Mung Bean Ice Cream Bar
This mung bean ice lolly is suitable for a hiking break only if you can keep it cold until you’re ready to eat it. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and pack size before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take an ice lolly in my rucksack on a hike?
Not as a snack to carry without keeping it cold. The DGCCRF recommends using a cool box to keep food cold at a picnic; choose an ice lolly only if you can keep it cold until you’re ready to eat it.
Can I refreeze a lolly that has thawed during my outing?
No. The French Ministry of Agriculture advises against refreezing thawed products, particularly because this can encourage the growth of bacteria. Plan to take only the portions you can actually keep cold.
How can I check the allergens in an ice lolly?
Read the ingredients list and allergens on the packaging of the product you buy. The flavour or picture alone won’t tell you exactly what’s in the recipe.
Is an individually wrapped lolly sold on its own?
Not necessarily: several individually wrapped lollies may be sold together in one box. If you’re looking for a portion for a single break, check the number of lollies and the weight or volume of each one.