Families stocking the biscuit cupboard
Pack weight helps you judge how much you are bringing home for repeated sharing. Check the pack’s storage directions if it will be open for several days.
Who is shopping?
Shoppers prioritising Fairtrade cocoa
If cocoa sourcing is the deciding factor, check the mark on the particular pack and the ingredient it names. The Fairtrade Foundation identifies the white-background mark as its Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark.
Households accommodating allergies
Check each pack’s ingredients and allergen information rather than assuming that standard and free-from custard creams use the same recipe.
What should you check?
Decide whether cocoa sourcing, pack quantity or a dietary requirement sets the choice, then check the relevant details on the individual product.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Check whether the biscuit contains cocoa; look for a Fairtrade mark on the specific pack; check which ingredient a sourced-ingredient mark names. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes its Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark from a whole-product mark. | If cocoa sourcing matters to me, a chocolate coating alone will not answer the Fairtrade question. |
| Pack quantity | Compare net weights on the packs you are considering; consider how many biscuits the household will use; follow the chosen pack’s storage directions after opening. | For a large shop, I want a quantity that fits repeated sharing without assuming that a small coated pack and a classic pack will go equally far. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information; assess a free-from variant on its own label; compare nutrition figures using the stated per-biscuit or per-100 g basis. | Someone in my household may need a different recipe, so I cannot judge suitability from the words “custard creams” alone. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating chocolate or another sourcing claim as Fairtrade proof
The M&S coated custard creams list cocoa ingredients, while Tesco’s Crawford’s listing describes palm-oil sourcing. Neither detail establishes Fairtrade cocoa for those biscuits.
Check the specific pack for a Fairtrade mark and, where it names a sourced ingredient, confirm that the ingredient is cocoa.
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Comparing packs without checking their weights
M&S lists its coated custard creams as a 64 g pack, while Tesco lists its classic custard creams as 400 g. They provide different quantities for a family shop.
Compare net weights first, then decide whether you want classic or chocolate-coated biscuits.
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Assuming every custard cream has the same recipe
The sampled Tesco and standard Sainsbury’s ingredient lists include wheat and milk ingredients; Sainsbury’s separately lists a milk- and gluten-free variant.
Check the current pack’s ingredients, allergen information and any free-from designation for the person who will eat it.
Brand and product-line references
Tesco
Tesco lists its own-label vanilla-filled custard creams in a 400 g pack.
- The listing gives the pack weight and ingredients for checking the family’s requirements.
- Pack size does not establish Fairtrade certification; check the particular pack if that is essential.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists standard custard creams in a 200 g pack and a separate 125 g free-from variant.
- The separately labelled variant offers a different recipe to assess for milk or gluten avoidance.
- Do not apply the free-from designation to the standard biscuits, whose listed ingredients include wheat and milk.
Crawford’s
Tesco lists Crawford’s classic custard creams in a 300 g pack.
- The Tesco listing states a typical count of 26 biscuits per pack.
- Its palm-oil sourcing claim does not establish Fairtrade cocoa or sugar.
M&S
M&S lists a 165 g extra-cream classic pack and a distinct 64 g milk-chocolate-coated custard-cream pack.
- The coated product lists milk chocolate at 52%, making cocoa sourcing relevant to that variant.
- Chocolate content does not establish Fairtrade certification, and the coated pack has a different net weight from the classic pack.
Joybuy product option
This custard cream is a free-from option to assess for a household member who needs to avoid gluten; check its pack for your other ingredient requirements.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A gluten-free custard cream option for a household member with that requirement. The 125g pack contains less by weight than the 200g, 300g and 400g classic packs discussed above; check its ingredients and allergen information for other requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does a chocolate-coated custard cream automatically contain Fairtrade cocoa?
No. Cocoa in the ingredients identifies what the biscuit contains, not how it was sourced. Check the specific pack for a Fairtrade mark and whether a sourced-ingredient mark names cocoa.
How do I choose a pack size for a large family shop?
Compare the net weights of packs that meet your ingredient requirements and consider how many biscuits your household will use. The sampled classic packs range from 200 g to 400 g, while the sampled chocolate-coated pack is 64 g.
Can someone avoiding milk or gluten eat ordinary custard creams?
Do not assume so from the product name. The sampled standard Tesco and Sainsbury’s recipes list wheat and milk ingredients, while Sainsbury’s separately labels a 125 g variant milk and gluten free. Check the current pack against the person’s requirements.
What should I do with custard creams after opening the pack?
Follow that pack’s storage directions. The sampled classic listings advise keeping the biscuits in a cool, dry place and using an airtight container after opening.