To give each child a fruit jelly, first choose portions that are genuinely individually wrapped, then check the ingredients, allergens and the venue’s rules. Carrefour France’s product listing for Gerblé mentions wheat starch, while an Andros Sport guarana variety contains 51 mg of caffeine. So individual packaging alone doesn’t mean a product is suitable for a children’s snack. In France, the DGCCRF states that Nutri-Score is voluntary; its presence doesn’t replace checking the label.
If you’re bringing snacks to school or another group setting, the label on the exact product must let you check its ingredients and allergens. The DGCCRF states that allergens in prepacked foods must be highlighted; the French Ministry of National Education explains that an individual care plan (PAI) can provide for a specific diet.
Individually wrapped portions mean you won’t need to cut them up when serving. Product listings from Auchan France and Carrefour France show Gayelord Hauser bars in packs of 5 × 25 g and Gerblé portions in packs of 6 × 27 g respectively. Check the number of pieces before planning how to hand them out.
A fruity bar may also be marketed as a sports product. Carrefour France’s listing for Andros Sport strawberry and banana with guarana states that it contains 51 mg of caffeine. Check the exact variety rather than relying on the flavour alone.
For a children’s birthday party, start with any dietary restrictions and the venue’s rules, then check the packaging and the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and rules | Read the ingredients and any highlighted allergens on the pack; confirm the school’s or organiser’s rules. | If a child has dietary restrictions, I need to be able to identify what each portion contains before handing it out. Around 38% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Individual portions | Check the number of pieces, the weight of each one and whether they’re individually wrapped. | To serve every child without cutting anything up, I’m looking for sealed portions that are easy to count. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise this format. |
| Sports nutrition formulation | Check the exact variety and look for guarana or caffeine in its name and ingredients. | A bar designed for exercise may not be the confectionery I want to serve at this children’s snack. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise avoiding these products. |
Carrefour France’s product listing for Gerblé mentions wheat starch. The product category and flavour don’t tell you what another product contains.
If you’re catering for any dietary restriction, check the ingredients and allergens on the actual packaging before handing out the portions.
According to the DGCCRF, Nutri-Score is voluntary in France, unlike the nutrition declaration required for prepacked foods.
Compare the nutrition information and ingredients shown on the products. Take Nutri-Score into account when it’s displayed, but don’t assume on that basis alone that a product is suitable for children.
Products in the same range can differ: Carrefour France states that its Andros Sport strawberry and banana variety with guarana contains 51 mg of caffeine.
Leave this product out of your children’s snack and check the ingredients of any other variety before buying it.
The French Ministry of National Education states that a PAI can set out a specific diet for a pupil. This alone doesn’t determine which foods your school allows at a birthday party.
Ask the school or organiser which portions you can bring, and keep the packaging so you can check the ingredients at snack time.
Auchan France lists Vitalité fruit jellies in a pack of five individually wrapped 25 g bars.
Carrefour France lists this fruit jelly product in six individual 27 g portions, as part of its sports nutrition range.
Carrefour France lists a box of six apricot, banana and red berry bars designed for exercise, as well as a strawberry and banana variety with guarana.
This individually wrapped fruity bar could be considered for serving at snack time. It hasn’t been confirmed as a fruit jelly, so check its product name and ingredients if you’re specifically looking for this type of confectionery.
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The product description says that the pieces are individually wrapped, making it easy to serve separate portions. The pack is listed as 85 g. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens in light of the children’s dietary restrictions, and check the venue’s rules too. This hawthorn bar hasn’t been confirmed as a fruit jelly.
No. The DGCCRF describes Nutri-Score as voluntary in France. For prepacked foods, however, the nutrition declaration and ingredients list are mandatory information. So the absence of a Nutri-Score isn’t enough reason to rule out a product.
You can’t make that assumption about the whole category. Carrefour France’s product listing for Gerblé mentions wheat starch, but you should check each product’s ingredients on the packaging, especially if a child has dietary restrictions.
Ask which foods are allowed at snack time and what restrictions need to be followed in the classroom. The French Ministry of National Education states that a PAI can provide for a pupil’s specific diet; check with the school to confirm the rules for snacks.
For a children’s snack, leave out the Andros Sport strawberry and banana variety with guarana. Carrefour France’s product listing states that it contains 51 mg of caffeine and presents it as a sports product. Always check the exact variety, as this information doesn’t apply to all fruit jellies.