People who count carbohydrates
You want to know how many carbohydrates are in the frozen dessert you actually eat. When comparing two ice lollies, the amount per lolly is more useful than a figure per 100 g when the weight of each lolly isn’t given.
Who are these criteria useful for?
Shoppers who prefer individual portions
You’d rather choose an ice lolly than serve an unpredictable amount from a tub. The number of lollies and their weight help you work out what each portion represents.
Households mindful of allergens
You’re buying for several people and need to check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for each flavour. In an assortment, the ingredients may vary from one ice lolly to another.
What should you check before choosing?
First, check the size of the ice lolly and its carbohydrates per lolly. Then compare the other nutritional information and the ingredients of the product you plan to buy.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per ice lolly | Check the carbohydrates per lolly, or calculate the amount for one lolly using the value per 100 g and the weight of a lolly from the same recipe. | If I count carbohydrates, I want to know what the lolly I’m going to eat contains, not just what the table says per 100 g. Around 36% of shoppers would put this calculation at the top of their list of concerns. |
| Portion size | Compare the number of lollies and their stated weight, or calculate their weight from the net weight of the box. | To avoid serving an unpredictable amount, I prefer a lolly whose size I know before opening the box. This individual portion would be the main concern for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Other nutritional values | After carbohydrates, check the sugars, saturated fat and energy for the portion you actually plan to eat. | I want to compare recipes without relying on the word ‘mini’, as their nutritional values can differ. Around 21% of shoppers would prioritise this broader nutritional profile. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the box of your chosen flavour, especially in an assortment. | If someone in my household needs to avoid certain ingredients or traces, I need to check each relevant recipe. Ingredient suitability would come first for around 14% of shoppers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘mini’ means fewer carbohydrates
Magnum lists 14 g of carbohydrates for a 41.5 g Mini Classic. For the Auchan fruit mini ice lollies documented, the values per 100 g and the box weight work out at around 9.8 to 10.1 g per 37.5 g lolly, depending on the recipe. Both size and ingredients matter.
Compare the carbohydrates in the lolly you plan to eat, rather than choosing based on its size alone.
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Comparing only the values per 100 g
Carrefour Extra lists 32 g per lolly in the assortment reviewed, compared with 41.5 g for a Magnum Mini Classic. So the same format for presenting nutritional information per 100 g doesn’t necessarily describe the same portion.
Check the weight of one lolly on the box or, if all the lollies weigh the same, divide the total net weight by their number before comparing.
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Checking sugars without looking at fat
According to Magnum’s product information, a Mini Classic also contains 6.1 g of saturated fat per lolly. Monitoring carbohydrates doesn’t replace checking the other nutritional values.
Compare saturated fat for the portion you plan to eat, as well as carbohydrates and sugars.
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Assuming all flavours contain the same allergens
Ingredients in assortments can vary between recipes. The products reviewed list milk, soya and almonds, or possible traces of other allergens.
Check the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the box you buy, even if you already know the brand.
Brands to know for comparison
Magnum
The Mini Classic product reviewed comes in a box of six ice lollies; Magnum lists a serving as 55 ml, or 41.5 g.
- Magnum’s product information gives the values per lolly: 14 g of carbohydrates, including 12 g of sugars.
- It also lists 6.1 g of saturated fat per lolly, so the mini format alone doesn’t tell you about the recipe.
Carrefour Extra / Simpl
The products reviewed include eight Carrefour Extra ice lollies weighing 32 g each and a box of eight Simpl lollies weighing 284 g.
- The number of lollies and, for Carrefour Extra, the weight of each one give you a guide to portion size.
- To count carbohydrates per lolly, check the nutritional information on the box you choose. Ingredients and allergens, including milk, soya or almonds, depend on the recipe.
Auchan
The products reviewed include a chocolate assortment of eight lollies weighing 258 g and a fruit assortment of eight lollies weighing 300 g.
- For the fruit product, the values per 100 g and the box weight work out at around 9.8 to 10.1 g of carbohydrates and 7.1 g of sugars per 37.5 g lolly, depending on the recipe.
- These calculations don’t apply to the chocolate assortment or other flavours. Also check the ingredients and any traces listed on the box.
Trium
The vanilla and chocolate product listed by E.Leclerc contains six mini ice lollies, with a net weight of 234 g.
- For this product, E.Leclerc lists 32.3 g of carbohydrates and 28.3 g of sugars per 100 g.
- To compare one lolly with others, check its weight and use it to calculate the nutritional values for this specific recipe.
MUCCI® (Aldi)
ALDI France offers a box of 12 chocolate MUCCI® mini ice lollies weighing 429 g, with several flavours in the assortment.
- The number of lollies and the total weight give you an idea of the size of the assortment.
- Check the box to compare the carbohydrates and ingredients in the flavour you plan to eat.
Ice lollies to compare on Joybuy
This selection includes small ice lollies and larger individual sorbets. If you’re looking specifically for a mini ice lolly, check the size of each one before comparing the nutritional information for each recipe.
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CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry ice lollies x12 (444 g)
The box of 12 makes it easy to plan an individual portion.
Its net weight is 444 g. Check the carbohydrates per lolly, as well as the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the box you buy.
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Magnum Mini Classic ice lollies x6 (55 ml)
This product is useful for comparing values per lolly if you want to know the carbohydrates in your portion in advance.
Magnum lists each lolly as 41.5 g, with 14 g of carbohydrates, including 12 g of sugars, and 6.1 g of saturated fat. Check the ingredients and allergens on the box you buy.
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POP FRUIT Melon Flavour sorbet ice lollies x4 (280 g)
These individual sorbets give you a different size of ice lolly to consider, but aren’t described as a mini format.
The box contains four lollies weighing 280 g in total. Check the weight, carbohydrates and allergen information for the lolly you choose.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Mango x4 (280 g)
This sorbet on a stick lets you choose an individual portion, but it isn’t described as a mini format.
The box contains four lollies weighing 280 g in total. Check the nutritional information per portion and the allergen information on the packaging.
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POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Coconut x4 (280 g)
This product is best compared as an individual portion of sorbet, not as a mini ice lolly.
The box contains four lollies weighing 280 g in total. For this specific recipe, check the carbohydrates and saturated fat per lolly, as well as the allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mini ice lolly automatically suitable for people with diabetes?
No. ‘Mini’ describes the format, not the amount of carbohydrates or whether it fits your meal plan. For example, Magnum lists 14 g of carbohydrates for a 41.5 g Mini Classic; compare this with the portion you actually plan to eat.
Which nutritional value should I check first on the box?
Start with the carbohydrates in the ice lolly you plan to eat. If the table gives values per 100 g, use the weight of one lolly from the same product to work out a comparable figure, then check the sugars, saturated fat and energy.
Is the Nutri-Score enough to compare two mini ice lollies?
No. A score alone doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in the lolly you’ll eat. Compare the nutritional values for each portion and check its size before choosing.
How can I check allergens in an assortment?
Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the specific box, checking each flavour if the recipes differ. The products reviewed list milk, soya or almonds, depending on the recipe; don’t assume the ingredients in one flavour are the same as another.
When should I buy ice lollies while shopping?
Pick up frozen products towards the end of your shop, as recommended by Anses to maintain the cold chain. Plan how you’ll transport them and follow the storage instructions on the box.