A mini ice lolly gives you an easy way to plan one portion per person, but its small size doesn’t make it any easier to keep cold on a hike. Only take them if you can keep them frozen until your break; otherwise, choose a snack that doesn’t need to be kept frozen. Then compare the size of each lolly, the ingredients and the allergens in the box you plan to share.
Mini ice lollies are best suited to a break near somewhere you can keep them frozen, or a short outing where you’ve arranged suitable insulated transport.
You’re planning a short outing and can keep the time between taking them out of the freezer and your break to a minimum, using a suitable insulated bag. The number of lollies also makes it easier to plan how many to hand out.
You’d rather take one small ice lolly per person than a larger one. Product listings give pack sizes of 6, 8 or 12, depending on the product, so be sure to check the amount per lolly too.
Before sharing an assortment, you’ll need to know the ingredients in each variety. Product listings from Carrefour and Auchan mention milk and soya, and almonds in some varieties.
First, decide whether you can keep the ice lollies frozen until you’re ready to eat them. If not, choosing a different number or size of lollies won’t solve the storage problem.
| Priority | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping them frozen | Plan for insulated transport and a short time between setting off and eating them. The Anses advises buying frozen products last and keeping transport time to a minimum. | For a long walk or warm weather, I wouldn’t rely on the small size of an ice lolly to keep it frozen; around 42% of consumers put the ability to keep products cold during transport first. |
| Portions to take along | Compare the number of lollies and the amount per lolly. Carrefour lists 8 x 32 g ice lollies in an Extra assortment; a Magnum product is listed as 6 mini ice lollies of 55 ml each. Grams and millilitres aren’t directly comparable. | If I’m planning a break for several walkers, I want to know how many lollies to take without relying on the word “mini” alone; around 33% of consumers prioritise individual portions. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the box you choose, especially if it contains several varieties. Check the nutritional information too if the ingredients are part of your decision. | Before handing out an assortment, I need to be able to rule out varieties that aren’t suitable for anyone in the group; around 25% of consumers prioritise ingredients and allergens. |
A small ice lolly is still a frozen product. It may melt before your break if you can’t keep it cold during the journey and walk.
Choose mini ice lollies only for outings where you can arrange insulated transport and eat them soon after taking them out of the freezer. Otherwise, take a snack that doesn’t need to be kept frozen.
An insulated bag and any freezer packs you need will add extra kit to carry.
Two boxes can contain the same number of lollies but offer different amounts per lolly.
Compare the number of lollies, the total amount and the weight or volume listed per portion, keeping the units in mind.
Ingredients can vary from one ice lolly to another. Some assortments listed by Carrefour and Auchan include varieties with almonds.
Check the label on the box you’ve bought before setting off, and identify any varieties that aren’t suitable for members of your group.
The size of an ice lolly doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fat it contains, or what ingredients are in it.
To compare products, check the ingredients list and nutritional information on the packaging.
These products show the different formats available. Check the exact box before choosing portions to take along or share.
The range includes Classic, Almond and White Chocolate mini ice lollies, as well as assorted packs.
Carrefour sells assorted mini ice lollies under both of these brands.
Auchan sells an assortment of 8 vanilla mini ice lollies with different chocolate coatings.
ALDI France sells a box of 12 MUCCI mini ice lollies in milk chocolate, white chocolate, almond and classic varieties.
E.Leclerc sells Smicy mini pots and mini cones for anyone looking for a small frozen treat rather than an ice lolly.
You can’t rely on an ordinary rucksack to keep them frozen. For frozen products, the Anses advises using insulated transport and keeping the journey time short. If you can’t keep them frozen until your break, choose a snack that doesn’t need to be kept frozen.
No. “Mini” doesn’t mean the same amount from one product to another. Carrefour lists 32 g per ice lolly in an Extra assortment, while a Magnum product lists 55 ml per lolly. Compare the amounts, taking the different units into account.
Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety on the box you plan to take. Assortments listed by Carrefour and Auchan include recipes containing milk, soya or almonds, depending on the product. The range name alone won’t tell you what’s in every variety.
The product name, ingredients list and nutritional information are good places to start. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control lists these among the labelling details required for prepacked foods. When comparing two boxes, also check the amount given per lolly.
You can’t tell what’s in it from its size alone. If sugar, fat or ingredients matter to your choice, compare the nutritional information and ingredients lists for the products you’re considering, as well as the amount per portion.