For a Christmas party, don’t choose an ice lolly labelled ‘no added sugars’ assuming it’s ‘sugar-free’: Auchan’s strawberry and mango-passion fruit varieties contain 17 g and 19 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. If a very low sugar content is essential, check the ‘of which sugars’ value for the exact product. Making your own lets you choose the ingredients, but a homemade recipe isn’t automatically sugar-free.
You’d like to serve individual fruity ice lollies without requiring them to be sugar-free. Auchan’s strawberry and mango-passion fruit varieties are labelled ‘no added sugars’, but contain 17 g and 19 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, according to their product listings.
Check the total sugar content shown on the label, not just the wording on the front. The Anses says that a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ must contain less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Both of the Auchan ice lollies mentioned exceed this threshold.
If your guests need to avoid certain ingredients or traces, check each product before serving. Auchan’s listings for both fruity ice lollies warn that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and tree nuts; the Magnum Almond listing includes milk and almonds, among other ingredients.
For your Christmas drinks party, first decide whether your priority is total sugar content, no added sugars or ingredients that are suitable for your guests. This will help you work out whether a ready-to-serve ice lolly meets your needs or whether you’d rather choose the ingredients yourself and make your own.
Worth considering: if you want ready-to-serve fruity portions and aren’t looking for a sugar content close to zero.
Bear in mind: Auchan’s strawberry and mango-passion fruit varieties contain 17 g and 19 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Worth considering: if you want to choose the ingredients in each portion you serve.
Bear in mind: sugar content depends on the recipe. Using moulds doesn’t make an ice lolly ‘sugar-free’.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugar content | The ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g or 100 ml. For a ‘sugar-free’ claim, the Anses sets a threshold of less than 0.5 g on this basis. | If you’re looking for a very low sugar content in what you serve, ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough to make your decision. Around 50% of consumers would prioritise this criterion. |
| Added sugars and pack size | The claim on the front, the ingredients list and the number of portions. The two Auchan boxes mentioned each contain four 60 g ice lollies. | You want to serve individual fruity portions while avoiding added sugars, without mistaking this for a complete absence of sugars. Around 30% of consumers would put this first. |
| Ingredients and storage | Allergens and possible traces for the exact product, followed by its storage instructions up to the time of serving. | Before serving several guests, you need to know which ingredients each person can eat and how to keep the ice lollies frozen. Nearly 20% of consumers would prioritise these checks. |
This distinction matters if you’re looking for a very low sugar content: Auchan’s strawberry and mango-passion fruit ice lollies are labelled ‘no added sugars’, yet contain 17 g and 19 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ line with the Anses threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim: less than 0.5 g per 100 g or 100 ml.
The listings for both Auchan products warn that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and tree nuts.
If a guest needs to avoid any of these allergens, check the label for the flavour and batch you’ll be serving.
The ingredient lists for the Magnum Almond and Eco+ Maxi Vanilla ice lollies, checked at Auchan and E.Leclerc, include sugar or glucose syrup. An individual portion doesn’t tell you what’s in the product.
If sugar content is your main consideration, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product before choosing it.
The instructions for both Auchan fruity varieties say to store them at −18 °C and not to refreeze them once thawed.
Keep the boxes in the freezer until you’re ready to serve, and take out only the portions you’ll be serving straight away.
Two 100% fruit ice lollies labelled ‘no added sugars’: strawberry and mango-passion fruit, sold in boxes of four 240 g portions.
Magnum Almond combines vanilla ice cream, a chocolate coating and almonds.
E.Leclerc sells a pack of five Fackelmann moulds for making ice lollies at home.
The Eco+ Maxi Vanilla ice lolly is a frozen treat with milk chocolate.
ALDI France sells Mucci ice lollies with a double coating, in flavours including chocolate, caramel and raspberry.
No. These claims describe different sugar contents. The Anses sets the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim at less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Auchan’s no-added-sugars strawberry and mango-passion fruit ice lollies contain 17 g and 19 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Read the ‘of which sugars’ line using the same basis for both products—per 100 g or per 100 ml—then check the size of each portion. The French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml.
No. The ‘fruit sorbet’ category alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for your guest. Auchan’s listings for its strawberry and mango-passion fruit ice lollies warn that they may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. Check the label on the product you’ll actually be serving.
No. Moulds let you choose the ingredients, but fruit, juice or concentrates can all contribute sugars. If total sugar content is important, consider the ingredients in the whole recipe rather than relying on the fact that it’s homemade.
Take out only the portions you’re about to serve. The instructions for Auchan’s strawberry and mango-passion fruit varieties say to store them at −18 °C and not to refreeze them once thawed.