TV-night snackers looking for sugar-free biscuits
If the sugar-free claim is essential, check the individual biscuit pack rather than relying on the Bourbon format or a range name. A different biscuit style may suit that requirement.
Who is each option for?
The choice changes depending on whether sugar-free labelling, the Bourbon format or a stated ingredient exclusion matters most.
Bourbon fans avoiding gluten or milk
A free-from Bourbon keeps the cocoa-sandwich format while addressing the exclusions stated on its label. Check sugar separately: free-from does not mean sugar-free.
Shoppers comparing carbohydrate and portions
The sugars figure alone does not show total carbohydrate. Diabetes UK points readers to the carbohydrate information on the nutrition label; compare it with the number of biscuits you expect to eat.
What should you check before buying?
Settle the biscuit format first, then check the exact claim and nutrition information on the individual product.
Sugar-free biscuit alternative
Choose when: Sugar-free labelling matters more to you than the traditional Bourbon format.
Trade-off: Gullón’s Zero range includes sugar-free digestive biscuits, which are a different format from a Bourbon.
Conventional Bourbon
Choose when: You want the familiar cocoa biscuit and cream filling rather than a sugar-free claim.
Trade-off: The conventional Bourbons listed by Tesco and Sainsbury’s contain sugars and do not meet a sugar-free requirement.
Free-from Bourbon
Choose when: You want a Bourbon-style biscuit with the gluten and milk exclusions stated on its pack.
Trade-off: Tesco and Asda list sugars in their free-from Bourbons, so the free-from label does not answer a sugar-free need.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim on the individual pack: “sugar-free” and “no added sugar” are different claims. Compare sugars per 100g on the nutrition panel. | I’m looking for a biscuit labelled sugar-free, not simply a Bourbon with a smaller per-biscuit sugars figure. |
| Carbohydrate and portion | Compare total carbohydrate and sugars per 100g, then check the stated serving against the number of biscuits you plan to eat. Diabetes UK advises using total carbohydrate information when comparing foods. | For a TV night, I want to compare the amount I’m likely to eat, not just the manufacturer’s single-biscuit serving. |
| Gluten and milk exclusions | Check the individual product’s gluten-free and milk-free statements and allergen information. Check its sugars figure separately. | I’d like a Bourbon-style biscuit that meets my stated ingredient exclusions; I won’t assume its free-from label also means sugar-free. |
Common label mix-ups
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Reading “free from” as “sugar-free”
Tesco lists 19.5g sugars per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Creams, while Asda lists 18g per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Biscuits. Their gluten and milk exclusions answer a different question.
Check the ingredient exclusions you need, then read the sugars figure and exact sugar claim on that same product.
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Comparing only one biscuit at a time
A per-biscuit figure describes the stated serving, which may not match the portion eaten during a TV night.
Use per-100g values for a like-for-like comparison, then check the figures against your intended portion.
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Assuming “sugar-free” describes the whole nutrition panel
A sugar-free claim does not state how much total carbohydrate a biscuit contains. Diabetes UK notes that polyols, used in some products, contain carbohydrates and calories.
Read the carbohydrate figure, serving size and ingredients on the individual pack when those details matter to your choice.
Relevant brand ranges
These examples show why a brand or range name is less useful than the claim and nutrition information for the specific biscuit.
Gullón
An option for shoppers willing to switch from a Bourbon to a different biscuit format.
- Gullón’s UK Zero range lists sugar-free Digestive and Dark Choc Digestive products, alongside a no-added-sugar Cookies & Cream product.
- Check the claim on the individual product: the listed range contains both sugar-free and no-added-sugar biscuits.
Tesco
Its conventional and Free From Bourbon Creams address different buying needs.
- Tesco describes its Free From Bourbon Creams as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.
- Tesco lists 25.2g sugars per 100g for its conventional Bourbon Creams and 19.5g per 100g for its Free From version; neither figure describes a sugar-free biscuit.
Sainsbury’s
Its Bourbon is an example of the conventional biscuit format.
- Sainsbury’s lists 25.8g sugars and 9.5g saturates per 100g for its Bourbon. Check the portion information if comparing it with another biscuit.
Asda
Its Free From Bourbon Biscuits are relevant when the stated gluten and milk exclusions matter.
- Asda labels this product free from milk and cereals containing gluten and suitable for vegans.
- Asda lists 18g sugars per 100g, so its free-from status should not be mistaken for a sugar-free claim.
McVitie’s
Its Bourbon Creams are another conventional cocoa-sandwich option.
- Tesco’s listing for McVitie’s Bourbon Creams gives 28.5g sugars and 13.3g saturates per 100g; it does not suit a sugar-free requirement.
Sugar-free biscuit options on Joybuy
These products are alternatives for someone willing to move away from an exact Bourbon biscuit: one is a sandwich cookie, while the other is a digestive. Check each individual pack’s nutrition and allergen information before choosing.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies 97g
A sandwich-cookie format to consider if you want a sugar-free-labelled alternative rather than an exact Bourbon. The pack is 97g; compare its full nutrition and ingredient information with your intended portion.
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Gullon Zero Sugar Free Original Digestives 400g
A sugar-free-labelled digestive for TV-night snacking if you do not need the Bourbon sandwich format. The pack is 400g; check the individual product’s carbohydrate, ingredients and allergen information as well as its sugar claim.
Questions about Bourbon and sugar-free biscuits
Does a Bourbon become sugar-free if it has less sugar than another Bourbon?
No. A relative difference between two products is not a sugar-free claim. The Bourbon listings from Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s, including Tesco’s McVitie’s listing, give sugars figures ranging from 18g to 28.5g per 100g; read the exact claim on any biscuit you are considering instead.
Are “no added sugar” and “sugar-free” the same claim?
No. Gullón’s UK Zero range uses these descriptions for different products. Check the wording and nutrition panel on the individual pack rather than assuming every biscuit in the range has the same claim.
Will a gluten-free Bourbon also be sugar-free?
Not on the basis of its gluten-free label. Tesco lists 19.5g sugars per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Creams, and Asda lists 18g per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Biscuits. Choose these products for their stated exclusions if those match your needs, and assess sugars separately.
What else should I compare on a sugar-free biscuit?
Compare total carbohydrate, the stated serving and the ingredients as well as the sugar claim. Diabetes UK advises checking total carbohydrate on food labels and notes that polyols contain carbohydrates and calories; the claim alone does not describe those figures.