For a late-night snack, start by checking the quantity in each ice lolly, then look at the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact product: the word ‘mini’ alone doesn’t tell you what the portion is. A mini chocolate-coated lolly is a different choice from a fruit ice lolly. In either case, check the sugars, allergens and storage instructions on the box you choose.
If you’d rather take an ice lolly than serve yourself from a tub, check the quantity per item. Carrefour France product listings, for example, give a weight of 32 g per lolly for the Carrefour Extra selection and a serving size of 55 mL for a Magnum Mini Chocolate. These units of measurement aren’t directly comparable.
Mini selections let you choose one chocolate-coated lolly at a time. However, their small size doesn’t tell you about the nutritional values or allergens, so check the ingredients for each flavour you’re interested in.
A fruit ice lolly offers a different recipe and flavour from a creamy ice cream coated in chocolate. Check the portion size, sugars and any ‘may contain’ statements for the product you choose.
For a late-night snack, start with the quantity you’d like to serve, then compare recipes using the label. If you’re buying an assorted box, check the ingredients of its different ice lollies too.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving size | Check the quantity per lolly and the unit used, in g or mL. Refer to the per-serving values where they’re given for the exact product. | ‘I want to be able to stop after one lolly rather than serving myself from a large tub’; around 46% of consumers would put portion control first. |
| Recipe and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen statements and nutritional values. To compare two products, use the same basis, such as per 100 g where that information is shown. | ‘If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the flavour alone isn’t enough to make a choice’; around 36% of consumers would make ingredients their priority. |
| Variety and box size | Count the items and check the flavours. In an assorted box, see whether the ingredients differ from one lolly to another. | ‘When several people are sharing the box, I look for flavours and a number of items that suit everyone’; around 18% of consumers would prioritise this variety and format. |
Format and nutritional values answer two different questions. The Carrefour France listing for a Magnum Mini Chocolate gives 160 kcal per 55 mL serving, while the Carrefour Extra selection listing shows 340 kcal per 100 g. These figures refer to different products and different serving bases.
Before comparing products, check the unit for each value — per lolly, per 100 g or per 100 mL.
According to the chocolate products listed by Carrefour France and Auchan France, ingredients and statements about milk, soya, almonds or other nuts may vary.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the exact box, including those for each recipe in the selection.
The documented boxes don’t all have the same net weight or quantity per item: Carrefour Extra lists eight lollies weighing 32 g each, while a Magnum Mini Chocolate listing gives a serving size of 55 mL.
Check the number of lollies, net weight and quantity per item together. Don’t treat grams and millilitres as equivalent measurements.
Anses recommends picking up frozen food towards the end of your shop and keeping transport time to a minimum. The Joybuy France listing for a Magnum Mini selection says to store at −18 °C or below and not to refreeze after thawing.
Follow the instructions on the box, keep the products protected on the way home and put them back in the freezer promptly.
The range includes mini creamy ice lollies coated in chocolate. If you fancy an individual chocolate treat, choose based on the specific flavour and box rather than assuming the whole range has the same nutritional values.
Its selection of mini chocolate-coated lollies is a good fit if the quantity per item is your main consideration.
Its selection of eight mini lollies includes several chocolate coatings, including milk, almond, dark and white chocolate.
This Marque Repère range sold by E.Leclerc includes boxes of mini lollies, including eight-piece vanilla products.
This selection includes mini chocolate-coated lollies, fruit ice lollies and individually portioned coconut sorbet. The sorbet isn’t presented as a mini format, so compare the quantity per lolly before choosing.
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If you fancy an iced treat in orange and cherry flavours, this box lets you enjoy one lolly at a time.
Net weight of the box: 444 g. Check the sugars and allergen statements on the packaging.
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This selection is a good choice if you’d like to pick a mini chocolate-coated lolly from several recipes.
Net weight of the box: 254 g. The Joybuy France listing includes milk and possible traces of nuts; check the statements on the box you receive. Also check the quantity per lolly to assess the serving size.
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These coconut sorbet lollies are an option if you prefer this flavour to a chocolate coating.
Net weight of the box: 280 g. This product isn’t presented as a mini format, so check the serving size on the packaging before comparing it with smaller formats.
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This variety is for anyone who fancies a Magnum Mini lolly with caramel.
Net weight of the box: 330 g. Check the packaging for the quantity per lolly, nutritional values and allergens in this recipe.
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If you’re after the Double Billionaire's recipe, this variety lets you enjoy one Magnum Mini lolly at a time.
Net weight of the box: 282 g. Check the packaging for the quantity per item and allergen statements for this variety.
No: ‘mini’ describes the format, not the energy content. The Carrefour France listing for a Magnum Mini Chocolate gives 160 kcal per 55 mL, while the Carrefour Extra selection listing shows 340 kcal per 100 g. Check the values and units for the exact product before comparing.
Check the ingredients and allergens for each recipe, as well as any ‘may contain’ statements. The products listed by Carrefour France and Auchan France include milk and, depending on the lolly, may mention soya, almonds or other nuts. Don’t assume every flavour has the same ingredients.
Follow the storage instructions on the box and keep the time out of the freezer to a minimum. Anses recommends picking up frozen food towards the end of your shop and using an insulated bag for the journey home. The Joybuy France listing for a Magnum Mini selection says to store at −18 °C or below and not to refreeze the product after thawing.
Use it to help you choose, then check the label on the box you receive before eating the product. For prepacked food sold in France, the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds shoppers that ingredients and allergens must be shown on the label, with allergens highlighted.