Who is this for?

Shoppers seeking a low-fat dessert

You want to check fat per 100g against the UK threshold for solid foods, rather than choose by a 'light' description or a calorie figure.

Shoppers comparing individual portions

You want a stated amount per serving, while keeping calories per item and fat per 100g as separate checks.

Households checking ingredients

You need to read the allergen and ingredient information for the exact flavour and pack, particularly if a substitute is offered during the weekly shop.

What should you check?

Start with the fat figure if 'low fat' is your requirement. Then compare portions, ingredients and storage instructions for the way your household will use the dessert.

Priority What to check Your needs
Low-fat claim GOV.UK gives a threshold of no more than 3g fat per 100g for a solid food claiming to be low fat. Read the current pack's fat-per-100g figure; 'light' and 'less fat' are different claims. If low fat is essential to my choice, I want a figure I can compare with that threshold, not just a lighter-sounding name.
Portions and calories Check calories per item alongside fat per 100g. Tesco lists a Halo Top Gooey Brownie stick at 90 kcal per stick and 4.3g fat per 100g, so its portion figure does not establish a low-fat claim for a solid food. A single item makes the portion clear for me, but I still need to check fat separately if that is why I am buying it.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredient list and allergen statement for the exact flavour and pack. Check again if the retailer substitutes a different product. My household may need to avoid particular ingredients, so a similar-looking flavour is not automatically interchangeable.
Pack and freezer space Compare the stated pack weight, volume or number of pieces with the space available. Follow the product's storage and thawing instructions. For a weekly shop, I need a pack that fits the freezer and offers portions my household will use.

Common buying mistakes

  • Reading 'light' as 'low fat'

    Waitrose describes Carte D'Or Vanilla Light as having 30% less fat than similar ice creams. That relative comparison does not, on its own, show whether it meets the GOV.UK low-fat threshold for solid foods.

    If low fat is your requirement, check the current fat-per-100g figure before choosing by claim wording.

  • Using calories per item to judge fat

    Tesco lists Halo Top Gooey Brownie sticks at 90 kcal per stick and 4.3g fat per 100g. Those figures answer different buying questions.

    Compare calories per portion if portion size matters to you, and fat per 100g if you are checking a low-fat claim.

  • Assuming flavours have the same ingredients

    Ingredient and allergen statements apply to particular products and formulations, not to every dessert in a range.

    Read the exact pack, including any precautionary allergen statement, before accepting a different flavour or substitute.

  • Leaving storage checks until after checkout

    The M&S Low Fat Birthday Cake Ice Cream and Tesco Halo Top Gooey Brownie tub listings instruct shoppers to keep the products frozen at −18°C or below and not to refreeze after thawing.

    Make room in the freezer before the shop, check local availability and follow the instructions on the product you buy.

Relevant brand and retailer references

These examples show why a named product's nutrition panel is more useful for a low-fat decision than a retailer category or range description.

M&S Food

M&S Food lists frozen yoghurt and ice cream tubs, including Low Fat Birthday Cake Ice Cream.

  • Its Low Fat Birthday Cake Ice Cream panel lists 1.1g fat and 120 kcal per 100g.
  • Check the current pack's ingredients and your selected store's availability before planning around this item.

Tesco

Tesco's Halo Top Gooey Brownie listings provide separate figures for individual sticks and the 460ml tub.

  • The stick listing states 90 kcal per stick, making its per-item calorie figure clear.
  • Tesco lists 4.3g fat per 100g for the sticks and 3.8g per 100g for the tub; neither figure meets the GOV.UK low-fat threshold for solid foods.

Waitrose

Waitrose lists Carte D'Or Vanilla Light as a 900ml frozen dessert tub.

  • Waitrose describes it as containing 30% less fat than similar ice cream products.
  • That relative claim does not establish whether the tub meets an absolute low-fat threshold; check the current nutrition panel if that is your priority.

Asda

Asda lists the 460ml Halo Top Gooey Brownie tub with nutrition information per 100g.

  • Its listed fat figure is 3.8g per 100g, so shoppers can compare it directly with the GOV.UK threshold for solid foods.
  • That figure exceeds the 3g-per-100g low-fat threshold; check the exact pack for ingredients and allergens.

Joybuy frozen dessert options

These mochi sorbet multipacks offer individual pieces for a weekly shop. If you specifically need a low-fat dessert, check fat per 100g on the current pack before buying.

Little Moons Refreshos Lemon and Elderflower Mochi Sorbet, 6 x 30g

Little Moons Refreshos Lemon and Elderflower Mochi Sorbet, 6 x 30g

The six-piece pack offers individual 30g portions for a weekly shop. Check the current fat-per-100g figure and allergen statement against your household's needs.

View on Joybuy
Little Moons Very Berry Refreshos Mochi Sorbet, 6 x 32g

Little Moons Very Berry Refreshos Mochi Sorbet, 6 x 32g

This six-piece pack has 32g portions. Compare its current fat-per-100g figure with the low-fat threshold and read the exact pack's allergen statement before choosing it.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

What does 'low fat' mean for a solid frozen dessert in the UK?

GOV.UK states that a solid food claiming to be low fat must contain no more than 3g fat per 100g. Check the fat figure on the current pack rather than relying on its name or calories per portion.

Is a 'light' ice cream necessarily low fat?

No. Waitrose describes Carte D'Or Vanilla Light as having 30% less fat than similar ice creams, but a relative reduction alone does not show whether it meets the GOV.UK low-fat threshold for solid foods. Check its current fat-per-100g figure if low fat is your requirement.

Does a lower calorie figure per stick mean low fat?

No. Tesco lists Halo Top Gooey Brownie sticks at 90 kcal per stick but 4.3g fat per 100g, above the GOV.UK low-fat threshold for solid foods. Check each measure separately according to what matters for your choice.

Which allergen information should I check?

Read the ingredients and allergen statement on the exact flavour and pack you are buying, including any precautionary statement. Check a substitute separately rather than assuming it has the same formulation.

How should I handle frozen desserts after the weekly shop?

Follow the instructions on the pack you buy and put frozen items away promptly. The M&S Low Fat Birthday Cake Ice Cream and Tesco Halo Top Gooey Brownie tub listings specify storage at −18°C or below and say not to refreeze after thawing.