Who is choosing for afternoon tea?

Hosts looking for Fairtrade cocoa

You want to know whether a sourcing claim applies to the cocoa in a particular custard cream or to the biscuit as a whole.

Hosts serving guests with different food needs

You need to check relevant allergens and ask whether a biscuit suits each guest’s chewing or swallowing needs. Age alone does not settle either question.

What should you check before choosing?

Choose between a cocoa-specific sourcing claim and a plain biscuit first, then check the particular pack and the needs of the people you are serving.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fairtrade cocoa Match the claim to the exact product and named ingredient. Ocado gives the M&S 191 g coated biscuit a Fairtrade cocoa mass-balance statement; Fairtrade International explains that an ingredient-specific mark differs from a whole-product mark. I care how the cocoa is sourced, but do not want to mistake that for a claim about every ingredient. Mass balance also does not mean the cocoa in an individual biscuit was kept physically separate.
Biscuit texture Ask about any individual swallowing advice before serving a crisp or crumbly biscuit. NHS Scotland speech and language therapy guidance identifies crumbly biscuits as potentially difficult to control and swallow. One guest has difficulty swallowing, so I cannot judge suitability from the cream filling or assume dunking changes that.
Ingredients Read the current pack’s ingredient and allergen information. M&S lists wheat, milk and soya lecithin in its coated product; Hill Biscuits lists wheat and milk and says its plain custard creams may contain soya. For a guest with a food allergy, I need to check the exact biscuit being served rather than rely on whether it is plain or chocolate-coated.
Portions and sugars Compare figures on the same basis: M&S lists 43.2 g total sugars per 100 g for its 191 g coated biscuit, while Hill Biscuits lists 28 g per 100 g for its plain custard creams. Then check the size and number of biscuits you intend to serve. I want to plan portions for the gathering without treating a Fairtrade cocoa claim as a nutrition claim.
Pack and variant Check the full name, pack weight and quantity offered. M&S’s 191 g coated and 165 g plain biscuits are different products; Hill Biscuits’ cited 150 g packs are listed in a case of 15. I would rather confirm what I am ordering than transfer a claim from a similar-looking pack.

Common buying mistakes

  • Calling the whole biscuit Fairtrade because of its cocoa

    Ocado’s statement for the M&S 191 g coated biscuit concerns cocoa. It describes mass balance, which permits mixing with non-certified cocoa during processing while the required sourced quantity is accounted for.

    Check the named ingredient and sourcing wording on the current pack; describe the claim as Fairtrade cocoa, not certification of every ingredient.

  • Assuming cream filling makes a crisp biscuit suitable for everyone

    NHS Scotland speech and language therapy guidance says crumbly biscuits can be difficult for someone with swallowing difficulties to control and swallow.

    Ask about the guest’s individual swallowing advice before serving one. Do not treat dunking as proof that the texture is suitable.

  • Confusing similar biscuits or pack sizes

    M&S’s coated and plain custard creams have different ingredients and sourcing information. Hill Biscuits’ cited 150 g manufacturer listing is for a case of 15 packs.

    Match the variant, weight and offered quantity, then read the ingredients and claims on the pack you receive.

Brand and product-line references

These product-line details help distinguish a cocoa-specific claim from plain custard creams; a brand name alone does not establish the claim for another variant.

M&S

Its 191 g milk-chocolate-coated custard cream and 165 g Extra Cream Custard Creams are separate choices.

  • Ocado gives the 191 g coated product a Fairtrade cocoa mass-balance statement.
  • The cocoa statement must not be transferred to the plain 165 g biscuit, which M&S describes as having extra vanilla cream.

Hill Biscuits

Hill Biscuits describes plain custard creams with vanilla-flavour filling in 150 g packs.

  • Its manufacturer listing provides ingredients and storage instructions.
  • The cited offer is a case of 15 packs; check the quantity of any offer you intend to order.

McVitie's

Iceland Foods describes the 300 g Tasties custard creams as crunchy sandwich biscuits with custard-flavoured filling.

  • The retailer lists wheat and milk among the product’s allergens.
  • If Fairtrade sourcing matters, check the claim on the exact pack rather than assuming it applies to this plain biscuit.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's lists a 200 g plain custard cream with per-biscuit nutrition information.

  • Its listing states 59 kcal and 3.3 g total sugars per biscuit.
  • Check the exact pack for any sourcing claim you want to rely on.

A Joybuy custard cream option

This plain custard cream option is for hosts considering a biscuit without chocolate coating. Check its pack if a Fairtrade cocoa claim is part of your decision.

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

Consider this plain custard cream when chocolate coating is not the aim. The product name identifies a 125g gluten-free pack; check its current ingredients and allergen information against guests’ requirements. Do not assume it carries a Fairtrade cocoa claim or suits someone with swallowing difficulties.

View on Joybuy

Questions about custard creams

Does Fairtrade cocoa mean every ingredient is Fairtrade?

No. Fairtrade International distinguishes a mark naming a specifically sourced ingredient from a whole-product mark. Ocado’s statement for the M&S 191 g coated custard cream concerns cocoa and says mass balance may be used.

Does dunking make a custard cream suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties?

Do not assume it does. NHS Scotland speech and language therapy guidance identifies crumbly biscuits as potentially difficult to control and swallow. Follow the guest’s individual swallowing advice rather than relying on dunking.

What should I check for a guest with a food allergy?

Read the current pack’s ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, then check it against that guest’s allergy. A Fairtrade cocoa statement does not provide allergen information, and a plain biscuit is not automatically suitable.

What if the pack differs from the online ingredient listing?

Use the supplied pack’s label before serving the biscuits, particularly when allergens matter. M&S and Iceland Foods both advise checking the actual label because product information can change.

How should I store custard creams after opening?

Follow the instructions on the particular pack. Hill Biscuits advises keeping its custard creams in a cool, dry place and an airtight container after opening; M&S gives airtight-container advice for its coated product too.