If Fairtrade-sourced cocoa is decisive, the 191 g M&S milk-chocolate-coated custard cream listed by Ocado has a cocoa-specific Fairtrade statement using mass balance; it does not establish that every ingredient is Fairtrade-certified. For a smaller coated pack, plain custard creams or a gluten-free option, check the exact pack’s sourcing and ingredients, as well as airport rules for any separately packed liquids or semi-liquid foods.
Ocado states that the cocoa quantity required for its listed M&S 191 g coated custard cream is sourced, traded and audited on Fairtrade terms using mass balance. That is a reason to consider this exact product if cocoa sourcing matters, not a claim about every ingredient.
A biscuit pack and a separate pot of jam or drink need different checks. GOV.UK says food in hand luggage may prompt an additional security check, while rules for liquids and semi-liquid foods depend on the airport.
Check the particular pack rather than relying on the name custard creams. ASDA lists wheat and milk in its conventional 400 g biscuits but describes its separate 125 g Free From version as milk-free and gluten-free.
Choose the biscuit style and pack size you want, then check the sourcing wording, full ingredient label and rules for anything you plan to carry alongside it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade sourcing | Read the mark and named ingredient on the exact pack. Ocado’s statement for the M&S 191 g coated biscuit concerns the required cocoa quantity and permits mass balance; the Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes ingredient-specific sourcing from its mark covering all certifiable ingredients. | I want a substantiated cocoa-sourcing claim, rather than assuming the whole biscuit or another pack in the range has the same certification. |
| Airport packing | Check the departure and any transit airport’s current rules for separate drinks, jam or other liquids and semi-liquid foods. GOV.UK also notes that food in hand luggage can require an additional manual security check. | I’m packing biscuits in hand luggage and may carry something separately to eat or drink with them. |
| Ingredients | Read the complete label on the supplied pack. ASDA lists wheat and milk in its conventional 400 g custard creams and describes its distinct 125 g Free From product as milk-free and gluten-free; check any other ingredients relevant to you. | Milk or gluten affects my choice, so a familiar product name is not enough to identify a suitable variant. |
| Pack and biscuit style | Compare the stated weights and formats: M&S lists coated 64 g and 191 g variants, while Tesco and ASDA list plain 400 g packs. Do not transfer the Ocado cocoa statement for the 191 g product to the separate 64 g variant. | A smaller coated pack would suit what I plan to carry, or I may prefer plain, uncoated biscuits instead of a cocoa-sourcing claim. |
Ocado’s statement for the M&S 191 g biscuit concerns the quantity of cocoa sourced on Fairtrade terms and explains that mass balance allows mixing during processing.
Check the exact pack’s mark and which ingredient its claim names.
These are separate M&S listings. The cocoa-sourcing statement documented for the 191 g product cannot establish the status of the smaller pack.
If the claim determines your choice, read the wording on the particular 64 g pack before buying it.
GOV.UK includes jam, honey and drinks among liquids or semi-liquid foods, for which hand-luggage rules depend on the airport.
Check the rules at your departure and transit airports for anything carried separately with the biscuits.
Conventional, chocolate-coated and Free From custard creams have different ingredient information. ASDA’s conventional listing includes wheat and milk, while its separate Free From listing describes a milk-free, gluten-free biscuit.
Read the complete ingredient and allergen information on the supplied pack.
These examples illustrate different listed products and label checks; a brand name alone does not establish a Fairtrade claim or an ingredient profile.
Lists separate 191 g and 64 g milk-chocolate-coated custard cream products.
Lists a conventional 400 g custard cream and a distinct 125 g Free From version.
Lists a 400 g plain custard cream with a vanilla-flavour filling.
The Tesco listing describes a 300 g custard cream with vanilla-flavour filling.
Morrisons lists Tasties Custard Creams as a 300 g plain-biscuit option.
This gluten-free custard cream option is relevant if you want to check a smaller biscuit pack for your journey. Check its particular label if Fairtrade sourcing or other ingredient exclusions matter.
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For a gluten-free custard cream to pack for the journey, this product is labelled Gluten Free and comes in a 125g pack. Check its full ingredient label and any Fairtrade sourcing statement against your requirements.
GOV.UK discusses food in hand luggage and says it may prompt an additional manual security check. Follow your airport’s and airline’s current instructions when packing your biscuits.
GOV.UK’s liquids guidance names separate liquid and semi-liquid foods such as jam, honey and syrup; it does not specifically classify the filling inside a custard cream. Check the relevant airport’s rules if you also carry a separate drink or accompaniment.
No whole-biscuit conclusion follows from Ocado’s statement for the M&S 191 g coated custard cream. It says the required cocoa quantity is sourced, traded and audited on Fairtrade terms and may be mixed during processing under mass balance. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes ingredient-specific sourcing marks from its mark covering all ingredients that can be Fairtrade-certified.
Follow the storage directions on your particular pack. Tesco’s plain custard cream listing advises cool, dry storage and an airtight container after opening; M&S also advises keeping its 191 g chocolate-coated product away from sunlight.