Look for the additives on the packet: the worst are E160b, E110 and E122. Commercial ice-creams may also contain sugar, sweeteners, hardened vegetable fats, emulsifiers, colourings, flavourings, and many other artificial additives.

Organic ice-creams from smaller producers avoid the risks associated with these additives. If you are buying a dairy-free or vegan ice-cream, look out for GM soya.

Look for recyclable cartons, or at least use then again as storage boxes. We have been keeping our medical supplies in the same ice-cream box for the last 18 years!

The Ethical Company Organisation rates small producers such as Cream O’Galloway, Mother Hemp and Yeo Valley among the best, with the big names such as Ben & Jerry, Carte D’Or, Haagen Dazs, Magnum and Walls ranked at the bottom of the ethical list.