For a Christmas gathering, choose a no-added-sugar fruit ice lolly if you prefer a fruity recipe with no added sweeteners. A vanilla ice cream lolly with a chocolate coating could suit you if you’re happy with sweeteners and check the ingredients for your guests. In either case, “no added sugar” does not mean “sugar-free”: compare the “of which sugars” figures per 100 g and per portion.
If you’re looking for a frozen dessert for Christmas with no added sugar, remember to check for naturally occurring sugars too. Picard fruit ice lollies and Argel vanilla ice cream lollies both carry this claim, but they both contain sugars.
Argel’s ice lolly combines vanilla ice cream with a milk chocolate coating and has no added sugar. Check the ingredients list if you want to avoid sweeteners, milk or soya.
Picard ice lollies, made with fruit purées and juices, are a good choice if you prefer a recipe with no added sugars or sweeteners. They still contain the sugars naturally present in the fruit.
First, distinguish the “no added sugar” claim from the amount of sugar shown on the label. Then choose a recipe and check that it’s suitable for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Claim and sugars | Check the exact claim, then the “of which sugars” figures per 100 g and per portion. | If you want to avoid added sugars, don’t confuse this claim with a complete absence of sugars. Around 42% of consumers concerned would put this distinction first. |
| Recipe and sharing | Check whether it has a fruity or creamy base, how many ice lollies are in the pack and the weight of each one. | For Christmas dessert, you’ll want a recipe that suits your guests’ tastes and a pack with enough portions. Around 33% of consumers concerned would put this first. |
| Ingredients to avoid | Check the sweeteners list and the allergens shown on each pack. | When serving several guests, make sure the ingredients suit their dietary requirements. This would be the priority for around 25% of consumers concerned. |
Depending on the flavour, Picard fruit ice lollies contain 8.7 to 11 g of sugars per 100 g, despite having no added sugar.
Check the “of which sugars” line in the nutrition information per 100 g, then work out how much that means for the portion you’ll serve.
Argel’s no-added-sugar vanilla ice lollies contain maltitol, erythritol and steviol glycosides.
If you’d rather avoid added sweeteners, compare the ingredients lists instead of relying on the claims on the front of the pack.
Argel lists milk and soya in its vanilla ice lolly with a chocolate coating. The Magnum vanilla and almond ice lolly featured by Joybuy contains milk and almonds.
Check the allergens for each product before deciding which desserts to serve.
Your dessert plans also depend on whether you can get hold of your chosen ice lollies before the gathering.
Check availability with the seller well in advance and, if necessary, look for another recipe that meets the same ingredient requirements.
Argel offers a box of six vanilla ice lollies with a milk chocolate coating, labelled “no added sugar”.
Picard offers a box of six no-added-sugar fruit ice lollies made with fruit purées and juices.
The Magnum vanilla and almond ice lolly featured by Joybuy gives you a classic recipe to compare with the other options.
No. The product may still contain sugars naturally present in its ingredients. For example, Picard fruit ice lollies contain sugars from fruit purées and juices. Check the “of which sugars” line in the nutrition information.
Yes. Argel’s vanilla ice lolly with a chocolate coating contains maltitol, erythritol and steviol glycosides. Check the ingredients list if you want to avoid them.
Check the allergens on the packaging for each product. Argel lists milk and soya in its vanilla ice lolly with a chocolate coating; the Magnum vanilla and almond ice lolly featured by Joybuy contains milk and almonds.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your chosen product. Argel and Picard product information says to store them at −18 °C; Argel also advises against refreezing a defrosted product.