Parents of a child under 3
If you’re considering an ice lolly as a snack, distinguish between an occasional dessert and their usual snack. Your child’s age, the portion served and the recipe matter more than the word ‘mini’.
Who is this choice for?
Families sharing a frozen dessert
Individually wrapped lollies make it easy to serve several people. Compare the number of lollies and the size of each one, then check that everyone sharing the box is happy with the flavours inside.
Shoppers mindful of allergens
In an assorted box, recipes may differ from one lolly to another. If anyone in your household has dietary restrictions, check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact box, variety by variety.
What should you look at first?
First decide whether you’re buying an occasional dessert or a regular snack for a child under 3. Then check the recipe, portion size and how to keep the lollies frozen.
| What matters | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Whether it’s suitable as a snack | Check the sugar content per portion and the ingredients. Don’t assume that ‘mini’ means it’s suitable as a regular snack. | For a child under 3, I want to distinguish an occasional dessert from something I serve them regularly. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this question. |
| Recipes and allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings for each variety in the box. | If someone in my household has dietary restrictions, I need to be able to check every lolly, not just the flavour featured on the front of the box. Around 33% of consumers put this check ahead of other criteria. |
| Sharing and storage | Compare the number of lollies and the size of each one. Plan how you’ll transport them and check the storage temperature on the packaging. | I’m looking for individual portions to share with the family, with enough room in the freezer and a journey that will keep them frozen. For around 25% of consumers, sharing and the practicalities involved are the priority. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Assuming ‘mini’ means healthier
The word describes the size, not what’s in the lolly. Magnum France lists 12 g of sugars per 55 ml portion of Mini Classic; Carrefour Extra’s assorted box product information lists 21.7243 g of added sugars per 100 g. These figures relate to different recipes and different measures.
For the box you’re considering, check the nutrition information per portion and per 100 g, then decide where this dessert fits into your child’s diet.
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Assuming every lolly in an assortment has the same recipe
An assortment may include an almond variety alongside other coatings. Auchan highlights this difference in its box of eight mini lollies, so the front of the box isn’t enough to check whether it’s suitable for someone with dietary restrictions.
Check the ingredients, declared allergens and ‘may contain traces’ warnings for every variety. If your child has a known allergy, follow the advice of the health professional supporting them.
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Planning to share without planning to keep them cold
A large multipack needs to be transported and then stored in the freezer. The DGCCRF advises keeping transport time to a minimum and preferably using an insulated bag. Joybuy’s product information for the Magnum x6 assortment says not to refreeze the product after thawing.
Pick up frozen products last, check the instructions on the box and make room in the freezer before you shop. If you’re packing them in a lunchbox, make sure you can follow the storage instructions until serving time.
Brands to compare
The formats below offer useful comparisons for sharing with the family; ingredients and nutrition information vary from one product to another.
Magnum
The Mini range includes boxes of six lollies and chocolate assortments.
- Magnum France lists Mini Classic x6 as 55 ml, or 41.5 g, with 12 g of sugars per portion.
- This product contains milk and may contain almonds and pistachios. Check each variety in an assortment separately.
Carrefour Extra
Carrefour’s assorted mini lolly box contains eight 32 g pieces.
- Knowing the weight of each lolly makes it easier to compare serving sizes.
- Recipes in this assortment include milk and soya, and some varieties contain pieces of almond. Check the information on the specific box you choose.
Auchan
Auchan describes an assortment of eight mini lollies, weighing 258 g in total, with several chocolate coatings.
- The different flavours in the box give you a choice to offer when sharing.
- One variety contains roasted almonds, so check the ingredients of each flavour separately.
E.Leclerc – TRIUM / SMICY / ECO+
Products featured by E.Leclerc include ice lollies and mini lollies in boxes of eight, ten or twelve, depending on the product.
- The different pack sizes give you several options for sharing.
- Sorbet, ice cream and coatings don’t describe a single recipe. Compare the ingredients and nutrition information for the product you choose.
MUCCI (ALDI)
ALDI offers a box of twelve MUCCI chocolate mini lollies, including milk chocolate, white chocolate and almond varieties.
- The twelve individually portioned lollies are handy for sharing with the family.
- As the assortment includes an almond variety, it’s essential to check the ingredients if anyone needs to avoid nuts.
Multipacks to explore on Joybuy
These boxes contain ice lollies or sorbet lollies in individual portions. Compare their recipes and formats for an occasional dessert to share, but don’t take their inclusion here as an indication that they’re suitable as a regular snack for a toddler.
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Pop Fruit Mini Sicilian Lemon & Sicilian Blood Orange, 8 sorbet lollies, 280 g
Two sorbet flavours in individual lollies, ideal for sharing as a dessert.
The box contains eight lollies, with a total weight of 280 g. If anyone in your household has dietary restrictions, check the packaging for allergen trace warnings.
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Binggrae Melona Coconut, 8 ice lollies, 70 ml each
The individually wrapped portions make it easy to serve several people.
Each lolly is 70 ml. To check the sugar content of the portion you’re serving, refer to the nutrition information and serving size on the packaging.
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Binggrae Melona Melon, 8 ice lollies, 70 ml each
The eight individual portions can be served separately when sharing with the family.
Each lolly is 70 ml. The product information includes a warning about the colour E102 and its possible effect on children’s activity and attention. Read this warning on the packaging before serving it to a child.
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PEPPA PIG strawberry and vanilla, 6 ice lollies, 60 ml each
The box of six makes it easy to serve individual lollies as a shared dessert.
Each lolly is 60 ml. The product information lists milk and possible traces of nuts and peanuts. Check the label if anyone has an allergy.
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Magnum Mini Classic, Almond & White Chocolate, 6 lollies, 254 g
The three varieties make it easy to share a frozen dessert with several people.
The box contains six lollies weighing 254 g in total. One variety contains almonds; the product information also mentions possible traces of almonds and pistachios. Check the recipe of each variety before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mini ice lolly suitable as a daily snack for a child under 3?
Don’t treat it as an automatic replacement for their usual snack. Santé publique France points out that chocolate products marketed for under-threes are often too high in fat and sugar. For an occasional frozen dessert, consider the recipe and portion size in the context of your child’s diet.
Does ‘mini’ mean it contains less sugar?
No. ‘Mini’ describes the size of the lolly, not what’s in it. Magnum France lists 12 g of sugars per 55 ml portion of Mini Classic. To compare another box, check its own nutrition information per portion.
What should I check in an assortment if someone has a food allergy?
Check the label on the box you’re buying, variety by variety, as well as any ‘may contain’ warnings. An almond recipe may be included alongside other flavours in the same box. If someone has a known allergy, follow the advice of the health professional supporting them.
How should I transport a multipack of ice lollies before serving?
Keep them out of the freezer for as little time as possible and follow the product’s storage instructions. The DGCCRF recommends picking up frozen products last and preferably using an insulated bag for the journey. If the lollies are for a lunchbox, make sure you can keep them under the right conditions until serving time.