Sellers offering table refreshments
Separate, labelled packs let visitors check ingredients and warnings without relying on an unlabelled shared bowl. Tesco lists the Polo Sugar Free multipack as four 33.4 g tubes.
Who are the mints for?
Stallholders keeping mints for themselves
A tin can be convenient to keep in the car or at the stall when the mints are for personal use rather than visitor portions. Waitrose describes Smint XXL as a 50-mint tin for a car or desk.
Adults checking dietary preferences
Check the exact ingredients, sweeteners and suitability statements instead of relying on the sugar-free description alone. M&S lists its Clear Mint Drops as vegan and vegetarian, but says they are not suitable for children.
What should you check before buying?
Decide whether the mints are for visitors or your own use, then check the exact pack's contents and warnings.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Check the number of separate packs and the amount in each. Tesco lists four 33.4 g tubes for its Polo Sugar Free multipack; Waitrose lists Smint XXL as one 50-mint tin. | I want separate labelled packs to put out for visitors, or a tin to keep for myself at the stall. |
| Ingredients and portions | Read the sweeteners, sugars per stated serving and any consumption warning on the exact pack. Compare sugar figures only when the serving basis is clear. | Sugar-free matters to me, but I also want to know which sweeteners are in the mints and what the label says about consumption. |
| Children's suitability | Look for product-specific age and choking statements. Waitrose warns that children under four could choke on small Polo sweets; M&S says its Clear Mint Drops are not suitable for children. | Children may visit the table, so I need to know whether these particular mints should be offered to them at all. |
| Labels and event plans | Keep the original ingredient and warning information with the mints. If you are operating a food business, check the Food Standards Agency's registration and allergen-information guidance, as well as the event organiser's conditions. | If I'm selling refreshments, I need visitors to have the relevant product information and to understand which food-business requirements apply to my activity. |
What could complicate the choice?
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Assuming sugar-free means unrestricted portions
Sugar-free mints can contain sweeteners that come with consumption warnings. The checked M&S Clear Mint Drops, for example, warn that excessive consumption may cause laxative effects.
Keep the original pack available and read its serving information and warnings before putting mints out.
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Putting hard mints out for young children
Waitrose's Polo four-pack warning says children under four could choke on small sweets. M&S states that its Sugar-Free Clear Mint Drops are not suitable for children.
Do not present these hard mints as children's refreshments; choose another refreshment category if children are the intended recipients.
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Relying on one small extra-strong pack
Sainsbury's lists Trebor Mighties Sugar Free as a 12.5 g pack. Its listing was out of stock when checked, so it is a poor basis for planning the whole table's supply.
Confirm availability before the event and plan the quantity and pack format around the people you expect to offer mints to.
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Assuming similar Polo listings have identical ingredients
The checked Joybuy Polo Sugar Free Tube 4 pack lists aspartame and acesulfame K, while Tesco's Polo Sugar Free multipack ingredient list names sorbitol, magnesium stearate and natural mint extract.
Compare the current ingredient list, pack size and warnings of the item you will actually buy rather than transferring details from another listing.
Relevant brand references
Polo
Tesco lists a Sugar Free Mint Tube Multipack containing four 33.4 g tubes, a format for keeping visitor portions in their original packs.
- Separate tubes retain their individual packaging.
- Check the formulation of the exact listing: the checked Tesco and Joybuy Polo ingredient lists differ. Waitrose also carries a choking warning for children under four on its Polo four-pack page.
Smint
Waitrose describes Smint XXL Peppermint as a 50-mint tin suited to keeping in a car or at a desk.
- The tin format suits a stallholder seeking mints for personal use.
- The checked Peppermint listing identifies aspartame and carries phenylalanine and laxative-effect notices; read the label of the flavour and pack you choose.
Trebor
Sainsbury's lists Trebor Mighties Extra Strong Peppermint Sugar Free Mints in a 12.5 g pack for those specifically seeking an extra-strong peppermint flavour.
- The small pack offers a distinct flavour choice for an adult's own use.
- The checked listing was out of stock and warns that the closure flap may detach and pose a choking hazard. Check current availability and the pack warning.
M&S
M&S lists its 42 g Sugar-Free Clear Mint Drops as vegan and vegetarian.
- The stated dietary suitability may matter when selecting mints for adults with those preferences.
- M&S says the drops are not suitable for children and warns that excessive consumption may cause laxative effects.
Joybuy options for personal use
These portable sugar-free mints suit a stallholder considering a personal supply for the car or table. Check each pack before deciding whether to offer it to visitors.
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Smint Sugarfree Spearmint Tin XXL
The XXL tin is an option for keeping personal mints at the stall. Check the exact pack's sweeteners and child-suitability warning before considering it for visitors; confirm the quantity if you are planning portions.
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Asahi Mintia Sugar-Free Refreshing Grape Mints 22 g
The 22 g case is a portable option for a stallholder's own use. Check the exact pack's ingredients, warnings and mint count if you are considering it for visitors or planning quantities.
Common questions
Does sugar-free mean I can put out unlimited mints?
No. Check the serving information and warnings on the particular pack. M&S says excessive consumption of its Sugar-Free Clear Mint Drops may cause laxative effects, so leave the original label available rather than presenting sugar-free mints as unrestricted refreshments.
Can I offer sugar-free mints to children at a car boot sale?
Do not assume a sugar-free mint is suitable for children. M&S says its Clear Mint Drops are not suitable for children, while Waitrose's Polo four-pack warning says children under four could choke on small sweets. Check the exact product and choose another refreshment category if children are the intended recipients.
How do I check whether a mint contains aspartame?
Read the ingredient list on the exact pack you intend to buy. The checked Joybuy Polo Sugar Free Tube 4 pack lists aspartame, whereas Tesco's similarly named Polo multipack lists different ingredients. A familiar product name is not enough to establish that the formulations match.
Do I need to register if I sell mints at a car boot sale?
Whether registration applies depends on whether your activity is a food business, rather than simply on being at a car boot sale. For someone starting or taking over a food business, the Food Standards Agency says to register with the local authority at least 28 days before trading or food operations start. Check the conditions for your activity and event with the organiser and local authority.
What product information should I keep with mints I sell?
Keep the original packs and their ingredient and warning information available. The Food Standards Agency says food business operators in retail and catering must provide allergen information; retaining the packaging helps visitors identify the product while you check the labelling requirements that apply to your sale.