When it comes to dessert after a delicious home-cooked meal, it’s hard to go wrong with a scoop of ice-cream in the final course.
Whether it’s paired with a hot slice of cake, served atop a steaming apple pie or just enjoyed on its own, the frozen treat is a hit with families and dinner guests across Britain.
And the UK’s love for ice-cream shows no sign of melting. Adults consume around nine litres each per year, helping to make the industry worth more than £1.4billion.
That is hardly surprising in a nation with a well-documented sweet tooth, with figures revealing that Britons indulge in at least one sweet treat every day.
Ice cream is made from milk, cream and sugar but supermarket tubs are often packed with additives that push the traditional recipe into ultra-processed food territory, chemical-laden products linked to cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
But those who can’t resist a scoop or two need not worry, because there are some offerings in supermarket freezers that are considerably healthier than others.
To find out which brands can go in your trolley guilt-free, we analysed some of the UK’s most popular ice creams – specifically their vanilla offerings – and asked registered nutritionist Jenna Hope to assess their nutritional value.
Read on to discover her verdict on the healthiest choices available, from worst to best…
Mackies – Indulgent Madagascan Vanilla
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 215kcal
Fat: 11.9g (7.1g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 25.2g (21.8g sugars)
Ingredients: Whole milk (50 per cent), whipping cream (24 per cent), sugar, glucose syrup, milk solids, vanilla extract, emulsifier (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), stabilisers (locust bean gum, guar gum and carrageenan), colour (carotenes).
What they say: Made in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Mackie’s hail their ‘fresh, smooth and creamy’ ice cream which is made with ‘natural vanilla extract and fresh milk and cream’.
They claim to have tried ‘many different types from around the world’ before choosing Madagascan vanilla as their ‘favourite match for this ice cream’.
What Jenna Hope says: ‘Similarly to Carte D’Or this ice cream is lower in fat than some of the others, although it’s slightly higher in sugar and contains emulsifiers and stabilisers – additives which help the product maintain its appearance and texture.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 1/5
Wall’s – Soft Scoop Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 180kcal
Fat: 6.3g (5.7g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 28g (17g sugars)
Ingredients: Reconstituted skimmed milk, water, glucose syrup, sugar, coconut fat, fructose, whey solids (milk), stabilisers (guar gum, tara gum, carrageenan, locust bean gum), emulsifier (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids), colours (annatto norbixin, curcumin), flavourings
What they say: Wall’s say their famous soft scoop ice cream ‘brings joy to any dessert moment with its soft, creamy texture’.
They add that it can be enjoyed as a ‘simple after-dinner treat’ or served ‘alongside puddings and bakes for the ultimate comforting finish’.
What Jenna Hope says: ‘Similarly to Carte D’Or this ice cream is heavily ultra-processed and contains a wide range of additives such as emulsifiers, four different stabilisers, colourings and flavourings.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 1/5
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What’s your favourite supermarket ice cream?
Carte D’Or – Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 186kcal
Fat: 7.5g (6.7g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 27g (19g sugars)
Ingredients: Reconstituted skimmed milk, sugar, glucose syrup, coconut fat, water, fructose, glucose-fructose syrup, exhausted vanilla bean pieces, stabilisers (guar gum, locust bean gum, tara gum), emulsifiers (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), natural vanilla flavouring, colour (carotenes).
What they say: Wall’s Ice Cream – which manufactures Carte D’Or – claims this ice cream is ‘vanilla at its best’.
They claim that the ‘irresistibly smooth’ frozen dessert is ‘made with hand picked and sustainably grown vanilla from the Sava region of Madagascar, for a delicious, authentic taste’.
What Jenna Hope says: ‘This ice cream is highly ultra-processed and contains four different types of sugar.
‘It’s high in those sugars and contains emulsifiers – which allows substances that typically do not mix to blend with each other – and that can contribute to irritating the gut and stomach lining.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 1.5/5
Halo Top – Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 106kcal
Fat: 2.4g (1.2g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 26g (9.4g sugars)
Ingredients: Ultrafiltered skim milk, skim milk, soluble corn fiber, erythritol, cream, sugar, vegetable glycerine, contains 1 per cent or less of natural flavors, ground vanilla beans, dry egg yolk, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, mono and diglycerides, sea salt, inulin, stevia leaf extract, annatto for color, vitamin a palmitate.
What they say: Halo Top claim this ice cream ‘brings a seamless paradox of simplicity and elegance in one deliciously creamy pint.’
Known for their low-calorie offerings, they also boast that the tub is only 290 calories while containing 16g of protein.
What Jenna Hope says: ‘This is positioned as a healthier alternative and whilst it does contain around 6g of fibre per serving, it is also loaded with ultra-processed ingredients.
‘However, since it’s predominantly sweetened with erythritol – a low-calorie sweetener made from sugar alcohol – and stevia, which works in a similar vein to erythritol but is harvested from a plant, it can be an inclusive alternative for those managing blood sugar dysregulation.
‘This isn’t a “healthy” ice cream although the presence of fibre and inclusivity makes it an option for some.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 3/5
Little Moons – Vanilla Mochi Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 214kcal
Fat: 6.6g (4.2g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 36g (24g sugars)
Ingredients: Whole milk, sugar, water, rice flour, double cream (milk), trehalose, skimmed milk powder, tapioca starch, emulsifier (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids), stabilisers (guar gum, locust bean gum, cellulose gum, carrageenan), ground vanilla pod (0.1%), salt, soya.
What they say: Little Moons, which are wrapped in a rice dough covering, claim their Japanese mochi ball inspired bites are ‘perfect alongside’ any dessert treats.
They say consumers will enjoy a ‘smooth and elegant taste’ of their Madagascan vanilla, which is ‘wrapped in a soft mochi dough’.
What Jenna Hope says: ‘At 6.6g of fat per 100g and 4.2g of saturated fats per 100g, this is lower in fat than some of the other options.
‘The serving sizes for the Little Moons are also more favourable, meaning that whilst they do contain more sugar than other options, you’re less likely to eat as much. Therefore this is a good option if you’re looking for a quick ice cream snack.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 3.5/5
Ben & Jerry’s – Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 232kcal
Fat: 15g (9.6g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 20g (20g sugars)
Ingredients: Cream (milk) (34 per cent), water, condensed skimmed milk, sugar, egg yolk, vanilla extract, stabilisers (guar gum, carrageenan).
What they say: Ben and Jerry’s claim their vanilla ice cream ‘is consciously concocted with a deliciously rich mix of ingredients that now includes 100 per cent fairtrade sugar and vanilla’.
Jenna Hope says: ‘Similarly to Haagen-Dazs, this ice cream is made using lots of real ingredients such as cream, water and egg yolk, although it does contain stabilisers such as carrageenan – which is a food additive extracted from seaweed.
‘The effects of carrageenan on gut health are still up for debate, with some research suggesting it may trigger inflammation and damage to the digestive system, so whilst it’s deemed safe in food, it’s best to avoid where possible.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 3.5/5
Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 250kcal
Fat: 16.9g (11.3g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 19.9g (19.9g sugars)
Ingredients: Fresh cream (39.2 per cent), condensed skimmed milk, sugar, water, egg yolk, natural vanilla flavouring.
What they say: Haagen-Dazs claim their ice cream has been made ‘gloriously rich’ by using natural vanilla flavouring ‘because only the best will do’.
Jenna Hope says: ‘Whilst being higher in fat and saturated fat – and therefore calories – than some of the other ice creams, this one is made from predominantly real ingredients and contains no emulsifiers or artificial ingredients.
‘If you’re enjoying ice cream, it’s a high sugar, high calorie food anyway and therefore you’re best to focus on ingredient quality.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 4.5/5
Yeo Valley – Organic Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutritional information (per 100g, or a medium-sized scoop)
Calories: 229kcal
Fat: 15.1g (9g saturated fat)
Carbohydrates: 18.5g (18.5g sugars)
Ingredients: Ice cream (whole milk, west country double cream (milk), sugar, skimmed milk powder, egg yolk), vanilla sauce (1.5 per cent) (sugar, vanilla powder), vanilla extract.
What they say: Yeo Valley say their ice cream starts with their ‘thick and luscious West Country cream’ and is ‘swirled with organic ingredients’.
They add that there is ‘nothing fake’ and ‘nothing fiddly’ in their tub, instead that it is ‘churned from ingredients you’ll actually recognise’.
What Jenna Hope says: ‘This ice cream is made with real organic ingredients and is free from artificial additives, stabilisers and emulsifiers and whilst it’s still high in sugar, it’s slightly lower than some of the other ice creams and made from real food.’
Jenna Hope’s health rating: 4.5/5
