The Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and McVitie’s bourbon biscuits covered here declare 19.5–30.3 g sugars per 100 g, so none meets the 0.5 g per 100 g sugar-free threshold set out in the food-claims annex published by legislation.gov.uk. For runs lasting more than 2.5 hours, consider carbohydrate intake separately from a sugar-free snack requirement: World Athletics describes intakes of up to 90 g per hour for events of that duration, but your choice of food or drink needs to be practised in training.
If a training run or event will last more than 2.5 hours, the choice of something to carry and consume is part of a wider carbohydrate plan. World Athletics gives guidance for events of this duration; it does not make an ordinary biscuit a complete fuelling plan.
The sugar-free threshold is assessed per 100 g, not by how little sugar appears in one biscuit. The bourbon biscuits covered here all declare sugars above that threshold.
A Free From bourbon cream may address a gluten or milk requirement. Check its allergen information and sugars separately: the Tesco and Sainsbury’s versions covered here are not sugar-free.
Start with the requirement the product must meet, then check its label and whether its format works for the planned run.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Compare sugars per 100 g with the 0.5 g per 100 g sugar-free threshold in the food-claims annex published by legislation.gov.uk. Check the current pack rather than judging by serving size. | I need a product that meets a sugar-free requirement, not merely a biscuit with a small stated serving. The Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and McVitie’s bourbon biscuits covered here declare 19.5–30.3 g sugars per 100 g, according to their retailer nutrition listings. |
| Long-run fuel | Consider event duration, carbohydrate per serving and how the chosen food or drink will be carried and consumed. World Athletics describes carbohydrate intakes of up to 90 g per hour for events lasting more than 2.5 hours. | For a long run, I want a carbohydrate plan I can practise in training, rather than relying on a biscuit simply because it is sweet. |
| Free From suitability | Check the specific gluten and milk information, then read sugars per 100 g independently. Tesco lists 19.5 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From Bourbon Creams; Sainsbury’s lists 24.3 g for its version. | If I’m avoiding gluten or milk, I need the relevant label to match that requirement. A Free From label alone does not answer my sugar-free question. |
Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s Free From bourbon creams are listed as gluten-free and milk-free, yet their retailer panels give 19.5 g and 24.3 g sugars per 100 g respectively.
Check the allergen information for the ingredient you avoid, and the nutrition panel separately for sugars.
A per-biscuit figure does not establish whether a food meets a per-100-g threshold. The checked bourbon biscuits declare 19.5–30.3 g sugars per 100 g across the Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA retailer listings.
If sugar-free status matters, use the per-100-g sugars value and check the claim on the current pack.
World Athletics describes carbohydrate intake of up to 90 g per hour for events lasting more than 2.5 hours. A biscuit choice alone does not establish how much carbohydrate you will consume throughout an event.
Plan around the expected duration and practise your chosen foods or sports products during training.
Tesco Free From Bourbon Creams are listed without gluten-containing cereals or milk, but they are not a sugar-free choice.
Sainsbury’s lists both a standard Bourbon and a Free From Bourbon Creams product, with different dietary information.
ASDA Bourbon Biscuits are a standard bourbon-biscuit option, not a sugar-free alternative.
McVitie’s Tasties Bourbon Cream Biscuits are listed in a 300 g pack; their sugar content needs checking separately from pack size.
These Joybuy options are a gel and a carbohydrate powder for considering alongside a marathon-training fuelling plan, not bourbon biscuits. Check each product’s current nutrition panel if sugar-free status is essential.
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A gel format to consider when planning what to carry on a long run. The pack contains 20 x 60g; try the flavour and texture in training before relying on it during an event.
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A carbohydrate powder to consider when planning training drinks. The 1.2kg pack requires mixing with water, so prepare and try it in training before deciding whether that format works for a run.
The food-claims annex published by legislation.gov.uk sets a maximum of 0.5 g sugars per 100 g or 100 ml for a sugar-free claim. For biscuits, compare the sugars figure per 100 g on the current pack rather than a per-biscuit figure.
No. Retailer nutrition listings for the Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and McVitie’s products covered here give 19.5–30.3 g sugars per 100 g. That includes the Tesco and Sainsbury’s Free From bourbon creams; it does not establish the sugar content of every bourbon biscuit on sale.
No. The checked Tesco and Sainsbury’s Free From bourbon creams address gluten and milk suitability, while their retailer nutrition panels list 19.5 g and 24.3 g sugars per 100 g respectively. Check each dietary requirement on its own part of the label.
Do not assume a sugar-free biscuit will meet a long run’s carbohydrate needs. World Athletics describes carbohydrate intake of up to 90 g per hour for events lasting more than 2.5 hours; consider the event duration and practise your chosen fuelling format in training.