For a nursery snack, choose a box of chocolate ice lollies only if the setting accepts frozen food, can store it until serving time and has checked that the ingredients are suitable for the children concerned. Otherwise, ask whether a box of chocolates that doesn’t need freezing is allowed. It avoids the need for a freezer, but you’ll still need to check for allergens.
Check the ingredients in each recipe and the guidance that applies to the children concerned. According to France’s Ministry of National Education, an individualised support plan, or PAI, can help manage the care of a child with a food allergy.
Ice lollies are only an option if they can be transported, stored and served without breaking the cold chain. Check the arrangements with the nursery before you buy.
The number of ice lollies in a box helps you plan a snack for the group, once you’ve confirmed that the setting accepts frozen food and the ingredients are suitable.
For a box of ice lollies to take to nursery, first check the setting’s rules, the ingredients and whether they can be kept frozen. Portion numbers and flavours come next.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and individual requirements | Read the ingredients for the variant you’re buying, especially for milk and tree nuts, then check the nursery’s guidance for each child concerned. | If a child has specific dietary requirements, I need to choose a suitable recipe before organising the snack. Around 33% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Cold chain | Ask whether brought-in frozen food is allowed and how it will be transported, received and stored until serving time. | I can only bring ice lollies if the nursery can keep them in a freezer until snack time. Keeping them cold is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Number of portions | Count how many people will be having a snack and compare the number of ice lollies in each box, rather than looking at the box’s weight alone. | To give everyone a portion, I look for a box with enough ice lollies for the group. This comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Chocolate recipe | Compare the flavours and ingredients in each variant once the requirements for a group snack have been confirmed. | Once the nursery’s requirements have been met, I want to choose a chocolate flavour. For around 20% of consumers, this preference guides their choice between suitable recipes. |
A box of chocolates that doesn’t need freezing and frozen ice lollies have different storage requirements. Permission from the nursery to bring one doesn’t necessarily mean the other is allowed.
Check exactly what kind of snack you can bring before comparing boxes. If you’re taking ice lollies, also confirm that they can be kept in a freezer until serving time.
The Magnum Mini Chocolat and Carrefour Classic’ products described by Carrefour contain dairy ingredients. Other variants list pistachios, almonds or hazelnuts. The size of the box doesn’t tell you whether its contents are suitable for the group.
Read the ingredients for the variant you’re buying and follow the nursery’s guidance for children with a PAI or other dietary requirements.
The cold chain also applies during transport and storage before snack time, as the DGCCRF points out. Just because a snack has been organised doesn’t mean the setting can accept a box of ice lollies.
Agree with the nursery how the box will be received, where it will be frozen and when it will be served before bringing in ice lollies.
These ice lolly products give you an idea of the formats and ingredients to look out for. Check each recipe separately to make sure it’s suitable for the snack you’re planning.
The brand offers chocolate ice lollies in a Mini format, among other options.
The retailer offers ice lollies under its Classic’ and Extra ranges.
The retailer features chocolate ice lollies from several brands, including Milka and Ferrero Rocher.
ALDI France offers mini chocolate ice lollies under this brand.
Because ice lollies need to stay frozen during transport and storage until they’re served. The DGCCRF points out that the cold chain covers each of these stages, so agree with the nursery how the box will be received and stored before you buy.
Not necessarily: these variants contain tree nuts, so you’ll need to check whether they’re suitable for each child concerned. The Magnum Mini Pistache and Carrefour Extra almond products described by Carrefour, as well as the Ferrero Rocher ice lollies described by Auchan, list pistachios, almonds and hazelnuts respectively. Compare the label on your chosen variant with the nursery’s guidance before offering it.