Many myths surround the introduction of ice cream to Europe and the UK. One claims that, when Italian duchess Catherine de’ Medici married Henry II of France in 1533, she bought with her Italian chefs who had perfected flavoured ice.
Another suggests that the Stuart king Charles I of England was so impressed with the “frozen snow” that he offered his own ice-cream maker a lifetime pension to keep the recipe secret.
It’s certainly true that Brits love ice cream. But is there a ‘healthier’ option? We took a look at some of the UK’s most popular high-street frozen snacks, from Magnums, Soleros to retro Fabs and Twisters, and found stark differences between products; some options pack more than a young child’s full daily sugar allowance into a single serving.
The NHS recommends adults should have no more than 30g (roughly seven sugar cubes) of free sugars a day (free sugars include added sugars, as well as those found naturally in honey, fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies). Children aged seven to 10 should have no more than 24g and the recommendation is 19g for those aged four to six.
Magnum Classic Chocolate (100ml) topped the table in all categories, with 231 calories (kcal) per portion, 9.8g saturated fat and 20g of sugars, a whopping two-thirds of an adult’s daily sugar allowance. If you’re watching your waistline, a tropical Solero (90ml) could be a wise choice, with less than half the calories at 98kcal, 1.9g of saturated fat and a respectable 12g of sugar per stick.
Children’s favourites are typically lower in sugar than Magnums: a Twister (80ml) has 70 calories, 12g of sugar and just 0.3g of saturated fat, and a 35ml vanilla Mini Milk contains just 21 calories and 12g of sugar. However, this is still more than half a six-year-old’s daily sugar allowance. A 58ml Fab ice lolly (from a multipack) has only 78 calories and 1.1g of fat, while thirst-quenching favourite the Calippo (80ml) has 83 calories, less than 0.1g of saturated fat and 14g of sugar.
- 10 vegetables to fight and beat belly fat
- Is there such a thing as healthy belly fat? Sort of - and the best news is it's easy to make it healthier
While many of us grew up with full-sized versions, most top brands are now sold in mini formats in multipacks, which can be a neat way to save some calories. But be careful: a 90ml Cornetto from a multipack still has 163 calories, 7.2g of saturated fat and 10g of sugar, and despite its tiny portion size of 49.5ml, a Mars Ice Cream Bar packs in 132 calories and 12g of sugar.
Saturated fats are primarily found in ice creams rather than ice lollies, as they typically come from the milk fat or cream used in production. These are among the less healthy fats, known to raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. UK guidelines recommend no more than 30g of saturated fat per day for men, and 20g for women. If you’re looking to reduce your fat intake, an ice lolly may be a better option.
- The secret to living a long time and staying disease free? Chocolate and wine (among other things...)
- Best cool boxes in 2025 for ice-cold drinks and chilled food
