No. 017 · Ice Cream · Added 10 Sept 2026
Elephant House Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream
Elephant House (Ceylon Cold Stores PLC) · 160 ml (~80 g); 6 servings per 1 L tub
15.5g sugar/ serving → 62% of adult daily recommended* limit144.3kcal/serving
The front of the tub flags "with Natural Vanilla," but that natural vanilla extract is 0.03% of the recipe and the creamy colour comes from two synthetic azo dyes that carry an EU hyperactivity warning.
Contains dairy (reconstituted milk)Coloured with Tartrazine (INS 102) and Ponceau 4R (INS 124) — both part of the "Southampton Six" with an EU hyperactivity warningNatural vanilla extract just 0.03%, with artificial vanilla flavour alongsideUses vegetable fat in place of creamContains carrageenanFront-of-pack traffic-light panel declares sugar 19.6g/100g, salt 0.0g/100g, fat 9.0g/100g
Per serving vs. daily recommended* limit
Total sugar15.5g / serving
sodium35.2mg / serving
Saturated fat3.6g / serving
Nutrition
| Energy | 144.3 kcal |
| Total carbohydrates | 17.6 g |
| Dietary fibre | — |
| Total sugar | 15.5 g |
| Protein | 2.5 g |
| Total fat | 7.1 g |
| — saturated | 3.6 g |
| — trans | 0.04 g |
| Sodium | 35.2 mg |
Ingredients worth knowing
Milk (Reconstituted), Sugar, Vegetable Fat, Mono and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (INS 471), Guar Gum (INS 412), Sodium Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (INS 466), Locust Bean Gum (INS 410), Carrageenan (INS 407), Natural Vanilla Extract (0.03%), Artificial Vanilla Flavour, Tartrazine (INS 102), Ponceau 4R (INS 124)
Vegetable Fat (unspecified)
Non-dairy fat used in place of cream or butter to cut cost and improve texture. Where the label doesn't name the oil, the saturated-fat source can't be traced; in Sri Lanka it is most often palm-based. Not a toxicity concern.
Tartrazine (INS 102)
Synthetic yellow azo dye, also one of the "Southampton Six." Can trigger reactions in aspirin-sensitive individuals, alongside the same EU hyperactivity labelling requirement.
Ponceau 4R (INS 124)
Synthetic red azo dye, one of the "Southampton Six" colours a UK study linked to increased hyperactivity in some children — requires a warning label in the EU.
Carrageenan (INS 407)
Seaweed-derived thickener. FDA/JECFA approved, but some researchers and consumer groups (CSPI) flag possible gut inflammation, especially degraded forms.
Mono- & Diglycerides of Fatty Acids (INS 471)
Common emulsifier, generally recognised as safe. Can occasionally derive from partially hydrogenated oils — worth checking if trans-fat sensitive.
Guar Gum (INS 412)
Plant-derived thickener. Well-studied, low concern at food-use levels.
Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (INS 466)
Common stabiliser/thickener. Low concern at typical food-use levels.
Locust Bean Gum (INS 410)
Plant-derived thickener, similar profile to guar gum. Low concern.
Artificial Vanilla Flavour
Synthetic vanillin, chemically similar to natural vanilla compounds. Considered low risk, though less "clean label" than real vanilla.