Hosts who want a mixed selection
Ocado lists the 530g M&S Extra Cream Triple Pack with custard creams, malted milks and bourbons. It suits a table where guests can choose between biscuit styles, rather than one reserved for custard creams.
Who is each pack for?
Hosts serving custard creams only
Tesco Custard Cream Biscuits and ASDA Custard Creams are each listed in 400g packets. Either keeps the biscuit selection to custard creams without adding other varieties from a mixed pack.
Hosts checking food allergies
Tesco and ASDA list wheat and milk in their custard creams. Their precautionary allergen statements differ, so check the label on the packet you intend to serve and keep that information available to guests.
What should you check before buying?
Settle the mixed-versus-all-custard question first. Then compare packet sizes and read the allergen information for the biscuits you plan to put out.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit selection | Ocado lists custard creams, malted milks and bourbons in the M&S triple pack. Tesco and ASDA list single-flavour custard-cream packets. | I want guests to choose between biscuit styles, or I want every biscuit on the plate to be a custard cream. |
| Quantity | Compare the M&S pack’s 530g with the 400g Tesco and ASDA packets. Decide how many packets to buy for your guest list; the mixed pack’s weight is not a count of custard creams. | How much of each biscuit style do I want to set out, and will I need more than one packet? |
| Allergen labels | Tesco and ASDA declare wheat and milk. Tesco lists a may-contain sesame warning; ASDA lists may-contain rye, barley, oats and sesame. Check the current physical packet before serving. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I need the information for the exact biscuits being served, not an assumption based on the biscuit name. |
What could go wrong?
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Assuming a triple pack contains only custard creams
Ocado’s M&S Extra Cream Triple Pack also contains malted milks and bourbons. It will not meet a plan to serve custard creams exclusively.
Choose the mixed pack for variety; for an all-custard plate, work out how many single-flavour packets you need.
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Choosing by packet size alone
A 530g mixed packet and a 400g all-custard packet supply different selections. The larger weight does not tell you how many custard creams you will have.
Decide on the biscuit mix before comparing pack weights or deciding how many packets to buy.
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Assuming similar biscuits have identical allergen warnings
Tesco and ASDA custard creams both declare wheat and milk, but their may-contain statements differ.
Read the current label for each packet and keep its ingredient information with the biscuits when serving guests.
Which brand references are useful?
M&S
Ocado lists the M&S Extra Cream Triple Pack as a 530g mixed-biscuit option.
- Includes custard creams, malted milks and bourbons.
- Not every biscuit in the pack is a custard cream.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists Custard Cream Biscuits in a 400g packet.
- A single-flavour option for a custard-cream plate.
- The listing declares wheat and milk; check the packet for its full allergen information.
ASDA
ASDA Groceries lists Custard Creams in a 400g packet.
- A single-flavour alternative to a mixed biscuit pack.
- The listing declares wheat and milk and says the biscuits may contain rye, barley, oats and sesame.
McVitie's
A Joybuy listing describes McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams as a 300g packet.
- A custard-cream packet rather than a mixed assortment.
- The listing states that the product is no longer available, so confirm availability before planning around it.
Joybuy product option
This 125g gluten-free custard-cream packet is a single-flavour option for the buffet. Work out the quantity you need and check the current label for each guest’s ingredient requirements.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A single-flavour custard-cream option if you want to include a gluten-free packet. At 125g, check how many packets your buffet needs; read the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information before serving.
Questions about buffet biscuits
Is the M&S Extra Cream Triple Pack all custard creams?
No. Ocado lists custard creams, malted milks and bourbons in the 530g pack. Choose it when you want those three biscuit styles, not when every biscuit must be a custard cream.
Which packets keep the buffet selection to custard creams?
Tesco Custard Cream Biscuits 400G and ASDA Custard Creams 400g are single-flavour packets. Check the current labels and decide how many packets you need for your guests.
Can I assume these biscuits suit guests avoiding wheat or milk?
No. Tesco and ASDA declare wheat and milk in their custard creams, and their precautionary allergen statements differ. Check the physical packet for the biscuits you will serve; a gluten-free product name alone does not establish whether it suits someone avoiding milk.
What allergen information does a UK food business need to provide?
GOV.UK guidance says food business operators must provide allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink. If you are providing a commercial buffet, check the guidance for your service format and keep accurate information available for the biscuits served.