Hosts comparing sugar figures
If you are putting out a shared plate of custard creams, the per-100g figure lets you compare different packs on the same basis. The per-biscuit figure then helps you think about the amount you will serve.
Who is this choice for?
Hosts serving a gluten-free guest
A gluten-free custard cream may meet a particular dietary requirement, but that designation says nothing about its sugar classification. Ask what the guest needs to avoid and check the physical pack before serving.
What should you compare?
Start with like-for-like label figures, then consider the number of biscuits served and any guest-specific ingredient requirements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Compare total sugars in g per 100g across the particular packs. Use sugars per biscuit separately for the portion you intend to serve; a lower figure in this comparison does not establish a reduced-sugars claim. | I want to compare biscuits without letting different biscuit sizes distort the comparison. Sainsbury's lists 26.5g per 100g for its 200g standard pack, Tesco 28.3g for its 400g pack and ASDA 29g for its 400g pack; ASDA lists 23g for Schär's gluten-free 125g product. |
| Portions | Check the labelled sugars per biscuit and count the biscuits you put out. ASDA describes Schär's 125g product as five inner packs of two biscuits. | For a long game, I would rather decide how many biscuits to serve than assume everyone will eat the pack's suggested serving. |
| Guest requirements | Match a free-from designation to the guest's specific requirement. Check ingredients and allergen information on the physical pack; do not treat gluten-free as a sugar claim. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I need the current pack to check before putting the biscuits out. |
| Pack and storage | Consider pack weight alongside the amount your group is likely to eat. Follow the pack's storage instructions for biscuits left after opening. | A pack that suits the group matters more to me than choosing by pack size alone, particularly if some biscuits will be left over. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Calling the lowest figure “reduced sugar”
A lower total-sugars figure among a few named packs does not establish that a product meets the conditions for a reduced-sugars claim. The NHS classifies foods with more than 22.5g total sugars per 100g as high in sugars; ASDA lists 23g per 100g for the Schär product.
Compare the stated figures for the specific packs, without turning their position in that comparison into a claim on the product.
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Assuming free-from means less sugar
ASDA lists 23g total sugars per 100g for Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams and 25g per 100g for its separate Free From custard creams. A free-from designation addresses a stated dietary requirement, not a sugar threshold.
Check suitability for the guest first, then read the nutrition label as a separate part of the choice.
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Relying on an online ingredient list for an allergy check
An online listing is not a substitute for checking the pack that will be served, particularly when a guest has a specific allergy.
Ask the guest which ingredients matter and keep the physical packaging available for its ingredient and allergen information.
Brand and product-line references
These figures describe named products in retailer listings, not every custard cream made by each brand.
Sainsbury's
A standard custard cream for a like-for-like label comparison.
- Sainsbury's lists 26.5g total sugars per 100g and 3.3g per biscuit for its 200g pack.
- That figure applies to this listed product; it is not a reduced-sugars claim.
Tesco
A standard custard cream sold in a listed 400g pack.
- Tesco lists 28.3g total sugars per 100g and 3.4g per biscuit for this product.
- Compare its per-100g figure with other packs rather than judging sugar content by pack weight.
ASDA
Standard custard creams and a separate Free From variant offer different pack choices.
- ASDA lists 29g total sugars per 100g for its standard 400g pack and 25g per 100g for its separate Free From 125g product.
- Check the Free From pack against a guest's actual dietary requirements; its designation is not a reduced-sugars claim.
M&S
Its Extra Cream Custard Creams are a filling-led alternative to the standard packs compared here.
- M&S describes extra vanilla cream in its 165g product.
- M&S lists 40.2g total sugars per 100g for that product, so do not treat the extra filling as a sugar-reduction feature.
McVitie's
McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams are a named classic-biscuit option.
- The inspected Joybuy listing for the 300g product gives 30.6g total sugars per 100g.
- That listing marked the product unavailable; check a current listing and pack rather than assuming it can be ordered.
Crawford's
Iceland Foods identifies Crawford's Custard Creams Sandwich Biscuits in a 300g pack.
- This is another named vanilla-cream sandwich biscuit to consider when shopping.
- Check a current pack's nutrition label before placing it in a sugar comparison.
Schär
A gluten-free custard cream presented by ASDA as five packs of two biscuits.
- ASDA lists 23g total sugars per 100g and 2.8g per biscuit for the 125g product.
- Gluten-free does not mean reduced sugar. The listed 23g per 100g exceeds the NHS high-sugars threshold for foods.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This Schär option is relevant when a board-game guest needs gluten-free custard creams; compare its current pack label and portion information with your group's requirements.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A gluten-free custard cream to consider for a guest with that requirement; check the physical pack against their specific needs before serving.
ASDA's listing for Schär's 125g product describes five packs of two biscuits and gives 23g total sugars per 100g and 2.8g per biscuit. Those figures do not establish a reduced-sugars claim; check the pack you receive for its current nutrition information.
Frequently asked questions
Does the lowest sugar figure mean a custard cream is “reduced sugars”?
No. The listed total-sugars figures let you compare those specific products per 100g, but being lowest in that group does not establish a reduced-sugars claim. Use the figure as a comparison, not as a designation for the pack.
How can I estimate the sugar in the biscuits I serve?
Multiply that product's labelled sugars per biscuit by the number of biscuits served for an estimate based on its label. The NHS distinguishes the total-sugars figure on nutrition labels from free sugars, so do not treat the two as interchangeable.
What should I check for a guest with a food allergy?
Ask which ingredients the guest needs to avoid, then check the physical pack's ingredients and allergen information before serving. A gluten-free designation or a sugar figure cannot answer a different allergy question.
How should I put out biscuits for a long game?
Choose an amount that suits your group rather than assuming the pack's suggested serving matches what guests will eat. Keep the packaging available for ingredient checks and follow its storage instructions for any biscuits left after opening.