A frozen ice lolly is only an option for a secondary school lunch if the school confirms it can receive, store and serve it safely: an ordinary lunchbox cannot guarantee it will stay cold. Once that’s sorted, compare the sugar figures in the nutritional information and check the ingredients. If dairy needs to be avoided, also follow the guidance in place for the pupil.
You’ll need to find out whether the school accepts frozen products brought in from home and can keep them frozen until lunchtime. The French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) points out that the cold chain also applies when food is being transported.
You want to look beyond the words ‘no added sugar’. The nutritional information, particularly the ‘of which sugars’ line, and the ingredients list let you compare different recipes.
You’ll need to check the label on the exact product and, if the pupil has an individualised care plan (PAI), follow the arrangements set out for their meals at school.
First, ask the school how it would receive and store a frozen product. You can then compare the labels of products that fit with those arrangements.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage at school | Check with the school how the product would be received, stored and served; check the storage temperature on the packaging. | If the school can’t keep my ice lolly frozen until lunchtime, I can’t pack it in a lunchbox. Around 50% of consumers would make this practical consideration a priority. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g or 100 ml and read the ingredients list, including any sweeteners. | I want to know what’s in the recipe, rather than assume how much sugar it contains from the wording on the front of the pack. Around 30% of consumers would make checking the label their priority. |
| Dairy and individual dietary needs | Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product; if a PAI applies, confirm the meal arrangements with the school. | If dairy needs to be avoided, I need a product that follows the pupil’s guidance—not just a flavour that seems suitable. Around 20% of consumers would make this check their priority. |
A claim on the packaging is no substitute for comparing the sugar figures per 100 g or 100 ml. The DGCCRF explains that presenting nutritional values in this way makes it easier to compare products.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ line, the ingredients list and the portion that would actually be eaten.
The cold chain also applies during transport, the DGCCRF reminds us. The French Ministry of Agriculture states that a defrosted product must not be refrozen.
First, ask the school whether it will accept the product and how it would store it until lunchtime. Also follow the transport and storage instructions for the product you choose.
A recipe described as vegan still needs to be checked against the label for the exact product and the guidance that applies to the pupil.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for each product, and follow the PAI if there is one.
These products show how formats can vary: a 315 g tub of sorbet won’t meet the same practical need as an individual ice lolly. The brand alone doesn’t tell you the sugar content or whether a product is suitable for someone avoiding dairy.
Auchan describes its 315 g strawberry sorbet as vegan and ‘with no added sugar’ on the product page.
Auchan sells an assortment of classic, almond and white chocolate Magnum mini ice creams, with 10 pieces weighing 423 g in total.
Carrefour sells a chocolate and vanilla assortment containing 12 ice creams on sticks.
Not without first checking the storage arrangements with the school. The DGCCRF reminds us that the cold chain also applies during transport, so ask whether the school will accept, store and serve a frozen product brought in for the pupil.
No. The claim doesn’t replace the sugar content shown in the nutritional information. To compare two products, check the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g or 100 ml, as well as the ingredients lists.
No. Check the allergen information and ingredients for the exact product, even if it’s described as vegan. If the pupil has a PAI, the dietary arrangements made for them at school must also be followed.