Mini ice lollies can make it easier to give each child an individual portion, but they’re only suitable for a school fair if you can maintain the storage temperature until they’re served, as the Ministry of National Education advises. Then compare the number of lollies with the size listed for each one, and check the allergens in every recipe. Several of the products reviewed contain milk, and ingredients and possible traces vary between products.
You have a suitable way to transport and store the products at the temperature stated on the packaging until they’re served. This is the first thing to sort out before planning ice lollies for a school fete or fair.
You want to hand out one ice lolly per child, with no cutting or serving with a spoon. The number of lollies in each box and, when listed, the size of each one will help you plan.
You need to check the ingredients of the product you choose and follow the school’s allergy procedure. The labels on the recipes reviewed declare ingredients including milk, soya and almonds, as well as possible traces of some allergens.
For a school fair, first decide whether you can meet the storage requirements. Then consider portion sizes and how many boxes you’ll need, without overlooking the allergen information.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping products frozen | Temperature stated on the box; suitable transport and storage until serving. | If I can’t store the ice lollies as instructed, I need to choose something else for the fair. Around 29% of consumers would make keeping products frozen their top priority. |
| Allergens | Ingredients and allergens in each flavour; the school’s procedure. | If several children need to be able to choose, I want to know exactly what’s in a product before offering it. Around 29% of consumers would make allergen management a priority. |
| Portion size | Number of ice lollies and the stated weight or volume per unit, without treating grams and millilitres as equivalent. | To give each child one ice lolly, I need an individual format with a clearly stated size. Around 24% of consumers would put this portion information first. |
| Number of lollies | Number of units per box and the quantity needed for the expected number of participants. | If I’m organising a fair with lots of participants, I want to know how many boxes to buy rather than relying on the total weight alone. Around 18% of consumers would make this their main requirement. |
An individually wrapped ice lolly is still a frozen product. The Ministry of National Education reminds people to follow the storage temperature shown on the label.
Before deciding how many to buy, check the journey, insulated containers and whether you can store the boxes as instructed until they’re served.
Ingredients and possible traces can vary from one flavour to another. The word “mini” tells you nothing about allergens.
Read the label on the box you actually buy and follow the school’s allergy procedure before offering the available flavours.
A description such as “8 pieces, 258 g” tells you the number of units and the total weight, but not necessarily the stated weight of each flavour.
If the exact portion size matters, look for information per ice lolly. Don’t compare a weight in grams directly with a volume in millilitres.
Its Mini Assortment contains eight ice lollies, with a stated weight of 32 g per unit—a useful guide when planning portions.
The mini ice lolly assortment contains eight pieces weighing 258 g in total, with several chocolate flavours.
A box of POUCE mini ice lollies contains twelve pieces weighing 414 g in total.
Magnum Mini Classic comes in a vanilla-and-chocolate recipe, with six ice lollies of 55 mL each.
These ice lollies and sorbet sticks come in individual portions that you can count for your fair. They aren’t all labelled “mini”, so compare the number of pieces and the stated sizes. Only choose a product if its storage requirements and label suit your plans.
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The twelve ice lollies make it easy to count the portions you’ll hand out. The listing warns that the product may contain traces of milk and other allergens. Check the label on the product you buy and make sure you can meet its storage requirements until serving.
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The eight 70 ml ice lollies give you both the number of portions and the volume per portion to help plan serving, without suggesting that this is a mini format. The listing states that the product contains milk and warns that the colour E102 may have an adverse effect on children’s activity and attention. Take this warning and the storage requirements into account before buying.
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The twelve pieces make it easy to plan how many ice lollies to hand out. If the size of each one matters to you, check the packaging. The listing also advises against this product for people at risk of an allergic reaction. Check the ingredients in each flavour and follow the stated storage instructions.
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This box of four sorbet sticks could work for a fair where four portions per box are enough. Check the size of each portion if that’s important to you. The listing warns that the product is made in a facility that handles milk, eggs, nuts and soya, among other ingredients, and states that it isn’t suitable for children under 36 months. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Only if you have another way to keep them at the temperature stated on the packaging until they’re served. The Ministry of National Education reminds people that this is essential for perishable foods and recommends transporting them in insulated bags. If you can’t maintain the stated conditions, choose a product that doesn’t need to be stored this way.
Read the ingredients and any allergens highlighted on the label of the product you buy. The DGCCRF sets out this labelling requirement for prepacked foods. For the assortments reviewed, also check how ingredients vary between flavours and look for possible trace warnings before following the school’s procedure.
No. CARREFOUR EXTRA states that each ice lolly in its Mini Assortment weighs 32 g, while Magnum gives a volume of 55 mL per unit for Mini Classic. These units refer to weight and volume respectively, so compare the information given for each product rather than treating the portions as identical.