When choosing an ice lolly to serve with coffee at your hotel, start by checking that the wording on the product matches exactly what you plan to tell guests: ‘no added sugar’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. According to Anses, ‘sugar-free’ means containing less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Whether you’re considering a fruity lolly, a creamy ice lolly or a dessert in a tub, compare the sugars listed, ingredients, allergens and serving requirements for each product.
If a guest asks for a ‘sugar-free’ product, ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t meet that request. Check the wording on the packaging and the ‘of which sugars’ value before adding it to your menu or signage.
A fruit lolly with no added sugar is easy to serve as an individual portion, but its purées and juices may still contain sugars. The amount varies by recipe, so compare the nutritional information for the flavour you choose.
A creamy recipe with no added sugar may contain sweeteners and ingredients that need to be highlighted to guests. For the Argel vanilla lolly featured here, check in particular for milk, lactose and soya.
For serving with coffee, start with the wording you want to use, then compare the recipe and portion size. Finally, check that storage and serving are practical for your hotel.
| Criteria | What to check | Guests to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Check the exact wording and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. According to Anses, ‘sugar-free’ means containing less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml; ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars. | If I need to meet a strict request for a sugar-free product, I can’t present a lolly labelled simply ‘no added sugar’ as an equivalent. Around 36% of consumers would put this accuracy at the top of their concerns. |
| Nutritional values | Compare sugars per 100 g and per portion, then check energy and fat using the same basis of measurement. | When choosing between fruity and creamy recipes, I want to know what’s actually in each portion, beyond the claim on the front of the pack. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact product, especially if it contains sweeteners. | When several guests need to check the ingredients before ordering, I need precise information about each recipe. Checking the ingredients would be essential for around 21% of consumers. |
| Serving and storage | Check the number and weight of portions, storage instructions, and the route from freezer to guest. | If coffee is served quickly or at several tables, I prefer a format that staff can store, count and serve without leaving it to defrost for too long. Around 14% of consumers would make ease of serving their top criterion. |
This wording could mislead guests: fruit or milk can still contribute naturally occurring sugars. Anses distinguishes between the two claims, and the Auchan and Picard fruit lollies mentioned here contain sugars despite being labelled ‘no added sugar’.
Use the wording on the packaging in your menu and, if helpful, give the ‘of which sugars’ value per portion. Only use ‘sugar-free’ for a product that meets this claim.
The Argel vanilla lolly with no added sugar contains 6.3 g of sugars and 19 g of fat per 100 g. Its recipe also contains sweeteners, milk and soya. The sugar claim alone therefore doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients.
Compare the nutritional values, portion size, ingredients list and allergens before deciding how to describe the product to guests.
The Argel, Auchan and Picard products featured here all have storage instructions of −18 °C. The Argel and Auchan product information also states that a defrosted product must not be refrozen.
Check your freezer capacity and plan to take portions out in line with service.
Portions taken out too early and allowed to defrost may need to be discarded rather than returned to storage.
These examples relate to specific products. Check the packaging and product information for each recipe before choosing an offer for your hotel.
Argel’s range includes vanilla lollies with no added sugar in a box of six 55 g portions, as well as coffee ice cream in a tub with the same claim.
Auchan offers a mango and passion fruit lolly with no added sugar, in a box of four pieces weighing 240 g in total.
Picard offers an assortment of six fruit ice lollies with no added sugar, in two recipes.
No. Anses explains that ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t rule out sugars naturally present in the ingredients, while ‘sugar-free’ means containing less than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. On a hotel menu, use the exact wording for the product you’re serving.
Yes, it may contain sugars that occur naturally in fruit. The product information for the Auchan mango and passion fruit lolly lists 19 g of sugars per 100 g; for the two Picard lolly recipes, it lists between 8.7 and 11 g per 100 g, depending on the flavour. Check the value per portion for the product you choose, too.
Always check the packaging for the recipe you’re actually serving. The Argel vanilla lolly featured here contains milk, lactose and soya; the product information for the Auchan mango and passion fruit lolly warns that it may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and other nuts.
Follow the storage instructions for each product and keep the time spent out of the freezer to a minimum. The product information for the Argel, Auchan and Picard products mentioned here specifies storage at −18 °C; the Argel and Auchan information also says not to refreeze a defrosted product.