Summer heat calls for a cool, creamy treat, but not all ice creams deliver the quality we deserve. Many popular brands pump their products full of air (called overrun in the industry) and artificial ingredients to cut costs.
These practices result in ice cream that melts quickly, lacks creaminess, and contains questionable additives instead of natural ingredients. Before your next shopping trip, consider these seven brands that might disappoint your taste buds.
This list is for general informational purposes only. Ice cream formulations can vary by flavour and product range, and some brands offer both artisanal and budget lines. Always check packaging labels and ingredients for the most accurate details.
1. Carte D'Or Vanilla Ice-Cream
Marketed as a premium choice, Carte D’Or Vanilla Ice Cream has been criticised for containing more air than expected and relying on additives such as stabilisers and emulsifiers.
The vanilla flavouring is often synthetic rather than sourced from vanilla pods, and many shoppers note that it melts faster than thicker, cream-based brands.
2. Wall's Soft-Scoop Vanilla Ice-Cream
Wall’s Soft Scoop is designed to be easy to serve straight from the freezer, largely because of its high air content.
Ingredient lists include modified starches, glucose–fructose syrup, and stabilisers, with relatively low milk fat compared to traditional recipes. Critics argue it meets only the minimum standard for being labelled ice cream.
3. Co-op Vanilla Flavour Ice-Cream
The use of the term “vanilla flavour” instead of “vanilla ice cream” reflects the reliance on synthetic flavourings rather than natural vanilla. Its texture is often described as light and foamy, suggesting a high level of aeration.
Ingredients such as whey powder and vegetable fats replace cream, with emulsifiers used to replicate creaminess.
4. Kelly's Cornish Vanilla Dairy Ice-Cream (Budget Lines)
Kelly’s premium ice creams are known for quality, but its budget ranges differ.
These versions often use reconstituted milk rather than fresh Cornish cream and are lighter in texture due to increased air content. Flavourings such as vanillin replace natural vanilla, and stabilisers are added to maintain consistency.
5. Blue Ribbon Classics
Sometimes available through import shops, Blue Ribbon Classics products are labelled as “frozen dairy desserts” rather than ice cream. This is because they do not meet the legal requirements for ice cream.
Testing has shown high air content and the use of corn syrup, modified starch, and artificial colours such as Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, which are restricted in some European products.
6. Great Value
Another imported brand, Great Value has been noted for its high level of overrun, meaning a significant portion of the tub is made up of air.
Its vanilla products typically use artificial flavourings in place of real vanilla and rely on additives such as cellulose gum for texture.
These products are also known to melt quickly, leaving a watery consistency rather than a creamy one.
7. Mr. Whippy
The soft-serve ice cream associated with ice cream vans contains around 50–60% air. Instead of relying on dairy fat, vegetable oils and artificial flavourings are often used to create the texture and taste.
The bright white colour has been linked to additives such as titanium dioxide, which has been restricted in some countries.
