For a quick top-up shop, choose a pack with enough ice lollies for the portions you need, and make sure you can keep them frozen until you get home. Then check the label for the exact product: a mini size, fruity recipe or plant-based option still needs to be checked for ingredients and allergens.
If you need to serve several desserts quickly, check how many ice lollies are in the box and plan how to keep them cold on the way home. The four-pack of Magnum Classic sold by Auchan and the multipacks offered by Carrefour show how portion numbers can vary.
If you’re buying for one or two people, a large box may leave you with portions to store. Compare the number of lollies and the quantity shown on each pack with the space you have in your freezer.
A plant-based or fruity recipe doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for a dietary restriction. Magnum and Carrefour product listings show that ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings vary by product. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergens must be highlighted on the label.
First, choose a pack you can transport and keep frozen, then work out how many portions you need. Classic, mini and plant-based options aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive: it’s the exact recipe, not just the pack name, that tells you which ingredients to check.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Transport and storage | Pick up frozen products last; plan how to transport them for your journey and store them in a freezer at around −18 °C. | If I need to bring home several frozen treats before they warm up, I’ll prioritise a quick journey and putting them away promptly. Around 42% of consumers would put keeping products cold at the top of their list. |
| Number of portions | Compare the number of ice lollies, the size shown on the pack and the space needed to store any left over. | If I’m only serving a few people, I want to avoid buying a box that’s too big for my freezer; if I’m buying for a group, I need enough portions. Getting the pack size right would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings. Compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g when portion sizes differ. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I can’t choose based on the flavour or the word ‘plant-based’ alone; I need to read the label. For around 25% of consumers, ingredients would come before other criteria. |
Leaving them out of the freezer while you finish shopping and travel home makes them harder to keep frozen. The Ministry of Agriculture stresses the importance of maintaining the cold chain for frozen foods.
Add them to your basket last, use an insulated bag if your journey calls for one, and put them in the freezer as soon as you get home.
A fruity ice lolly may contain milk. Magnum says its Vegan Amande product contains almonds and may contain traces of milk, soya and other nuts. Mini ice lollies also need to be checked against the nutritional information before you compare them.
Check the ingredients, allergens, ‘may contain’ warnings and nutritional information for the exact product.
Not all packs contain the same number of pieces or the same quantity per portion. A box designed for several people may not suit what you need right now, or could take up more space than expected.
Check the number of pieces and the net quantity before choosing between a smaller pack and a multipack.
E.Leclerc advises shoppers to check availability with their chosen store, while some Lidl offers are only available for a limited time. So don’t assume that a product you’ve seen online will be in stock when you visit.
Before setting off, check the store, collection options and, where relevant, how long the offer is available for.
The range includes classic ice lollies, mini sizes and plant-based options. Auchan, for example, lists Magnum Classic in a box of four 100 ml ice lollies.
These Carrefour brands offer a range of recipes and pack sizes for ice lollies and frozen bars.
The E.Leclerc range includes vanilla and speculoos ice lollies in a box of four.
ALDI offers a pack of four double-coated ice lollies under this brand, weighing 288 g in total.
The retailer also sells ice lollies in its frozen food range, including some limited-time assortments.
These packs of ice lollies, water ice lollies, sorbet sticks and frozen bars let you choose a set number of portions for a quick top-up shop. Before ordering, check the ingredients for the product you’re interested in and plan how to keep it frozen.
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Worth considering if you need several portions and different flavours in one pack: 12 ice lollies weighing 1200 g in total.
If you have a dietary restriction, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before choosing this product.
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This pack gives you 12 frozen portions in orange and cherry flavours, weighing 444 g in total.
If you need to avoid certain allergens, check the ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging for the product you buy.
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If you need four coconut portions, this pack of sorbet sticks weighs 280 g in total.
Check the allergen information on the label. The product listing advises against giving this product to children under 36 months.
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If eight portions suit the number of people you’re serving, this pack contains frozen bars of 70 ml each.
If the ingredients matter to you, check the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging before buying.
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This pack of eight vanilla and almond frozen bars weighs 600 g in total, making it a good option when you need several individual portions.
The product listing mentions milk and almonds, as well as a choking risk from small pieces of nuts for young children. Check the packaging before serving.
It depends on its temperature and star rating. The Ministry of Agriculture says a three-star compartment at −18 °C can keep frozen foods until their best-before date. Check the instructions for your appliance and the packaging.
No. The Ministry of Agriculture advises against refreezing defrosted food. To reduce the risk, pick up ice lollies last, carry them in an insulated bag if needed, and put them away as soon as you can.
The word ‘vegan’ alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable. Magnum says its Vegan Amande product contains almonds and may contain traces of milk, soya and other nuts. Read the information for the specific product and packaging.
Start with the ingredients and allergens: the DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergens must be highlighted on the labels of pre-packed foods. Also check the quantity, nutritional information and storage instructions for the product you choose.