Workers packing a snack for one break
Individually portioned biscuits let you take a defined pack rather than an opened sharing pack. If you prefer loose biscuits, divide them into break portions before leaving for work.
Who is each pack for?
Workers stocking up for several shifts
A 300g–400g sharing pack provides loose biscuits to portion across multiple breaks. Check the total weight and the instructions for storing the pack after opening.
Workers checking wheat or lactose
The Schär custard creams listed by Asda are labelled wheat-free and lactose-free. The Tesco and Asda standard packs list wheat and milk, so check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact pack you intend to buy.
What should you check?
Start with how you will carry the biscuits, then compare the exact pack’s ingredients, nutrition information and storage instructions.
| Priority | What to check | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Look for an explicit count of individual packs, not just a total weight. Asda lists Schär as five 25g portion packs; the checked Tesco and Asda 400g products are sharing packs. | I want to put one defined portion in my work bag without taking an opened pack. |
| Quantity | Compare the net weight with the number of breaks you plan to pack for. A smaller loose pack and individually portioned packs solve different carrying needs. | If I am buying for several shifts, I can divide loose biscuits before work; for a single break, an individual pack is simpler to carry. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the exact pack’s ingredients, allergen declarations and any may-contain wording. Do not assume a custard cream is wheat-free or lactose-free from its name. | I need to confirm that this particular product meets my dietary requirements before choosing its pack format. |
| Nutrition information | Keep the comparison basis consistent: check per-biscuit values for a planned serving and per-100g values when comparing recipes. Tesco marks its listed 3.4g sugars and 1.5g saturates per biscuit as high on its traffic-light information. | For repeated breaks, I want to know what is in the number of biscuits I actually plan to take, rather than judging by pack size alone. |
| Storage | Follow the pack’s cool, dry storage instructions. Sainsbury’s advises keeping its opened 200g custard creams in an airtight container. | When a sharing pack lasts across shifts, I need a way to store the opened biscuits between breaks. |
Pack-buying mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a large pack contains individual packs
A total weight tells you how many biscuits you are buying, not how they are wrapped. The checked 300g–400g standard products are loose-biscuit packs, while Asda describes the Schär product as five portion packs.
Check for an individual-pack count. If you choose loose biscuits, divide them into the portions you intend to take to work.
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Planning biscuits as the only food for a full shift
A biscuit portion is not a substitute for planning the rest of a night shift’s food. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust advises that smaller snacks or a light meal during night breaks may be preferable to one large meal.
Plan meals and breaks separately, then decide whether a portion of custard creams fits among the food you are taking.
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Assuming every custard cream has the same allergens
The checked standard Tesco and Asda products list wheat and milk, whereas the Schär product is labelled wheat-free and lactose-free. Other allergen and may-contain statements can also differ.
Read the ingredient and allergen panel on the exact pack, including any may-contain wording.
Brand and product-line references
Schär
Asda lists Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams as a 125g pack containing five 25g portion packs.
- The individually portioned format lets you carry one pack for a break.
- Check the exact pack’s dietary labelling and ingredients rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Tesco
Tesco lists a 400g custard-cream sharing pack with per-biscuit nutrition information.
- The loose-biscuit format can be divided into portions for separate shifts.
- It is not individually portioned; the listed biscuit contains wheat and milk.
Asda
Asda lists its own-label custard creams in a 400g sharing pack.
- The larger loose pack can be portioned for more than one break.
- It is not an individual multipack and lists wheat and milk.
Crawford's
Tesco lists Crawford's Custard Creams as a 300g standard pack.
- Its pack size offers a smaller loose-biscuit option than the checked 400g Tesco and Asda packs.
- It is not individually portioned; check its wheat, milk and may-contain declarations.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack.
- The smaller pack is an option if you want less total pack weight than a 300g–400g sharing pack.
- It is not an individual multipack. M&S lists 40.2g sugars and 13.5g saturates per 100g.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This individually portioned custard-cream option is relevant if you want to take a defined pack to a night-shift break.
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Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams, 5 × 25g (125g)
The five portion packs let you carry one defined pack for a work break. This product is labelled wheat-free and lactose-free; check the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen information for your needs.
Common questions
Which custard creams can I check if I avoid wheat or lactose?
The Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams listing describes five portion packs and labels the product wheat-free and lactose-free. The checked Tesco and Asda standard products list wheat and milk; read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before buying.
How should I keep a sharing pack between shifts?
Follow the storage instructions on your pack. Sainsbury’s advises keeping its custard creams in a cool, dry place and transferring them to an airtight container after opening.
Does the name “custard creams” establish an HFSS classification?
No. The Department of Health and Social Care describes a nutrient-profiling scoring model for the relevant classification; a biscuit’s name or traffic-light label alone does not establish its score. Check the applicable classification for the specific product rather than assuming one for every custard cream.
Do England’s school-food rules apply to a personal night-shift snack?
No. Department for Education school-food guidance addresses food and drink provided in state-funded schools in England, not an adult bringing biscuits to a work break. School-food requirements and rules on qualifying retail promotions concern different settings.