Hosts comparing sugar
You want familiar custard creams for a garden party, but need to compare labels on the same per-100g basis and plan how many biscuits to serve.
Who is this for?
Hosts serving guests with allergies
You need the exact packs’ ingredient lists and precautionary warnings available. The examined standard biscuits list wheat and milk; warnings about sesame or other cereals vary by product.
What to check before buying
Start with the per-100g label for a like-for-like sugar comparison, then use the pack and serving information to plan the biscuit plate.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar comparison | Compare total sugars per 100g on the exact variants. Tesco lists 28.3g, Asda 29g and M&S Extra Cream 40.2g per 100g. NHS guidance describes more than 22.5g per 100g as high in total sugars; a lower figure alone does not establish a ‘reduced sugars’ claim. | I want to compare the biscuits fairly without mistaking an ordinary custard cream for one labelled ‘reduced sugars’. |
| Number served | Check sugars per biscuit and the pack’s suggested serving, then consider how many biscuits you intend to put out. Tesco and Asda each list 3.4g sugars per biscuit for the products compared here; biscuit sizes and serving suggestions can differ. | If I serve more than one biscuit per guest, the per-biscuit figure helps me plan the plate. |
| Allergen labels | Read the actual pack’s ingredients and precautionary warnings before serving. The examined standard listings contain wheat and milk, while some also warn about sesame or other cereals. | Guests need to be able to check the label for the biscuits they are offered, particularly if different packs are on the table. |
| Filling style | Distinguish standard biscuits from M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams. M&S describes more vanilla cream and lists 40.2g sugars per 100g; its listing does not give a per-biscuit sugar figure for the same serving comparison. | I might choose a fuller filling for its style, but not as a way to reduce the listed sugar content. |
| Pack planning | Check the exact pack weight and any stated biscuit or serving count. Asda suggests 34 servings for its 400g pack; Tesco advises cool, dry storage and an airtight container after opening. | For a garden party, I want enough biscuits without assuming that packs of different sizes contain the same number. |
Common buying mistakes
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Calling the lowest figure ‘reduced sugars’
A lower per-100g figure within a small comparison is not the same as a substantiated product claim. NHS My Health London explains that ‘reduced sugar’ means 30% less sugar than a standard equivalent, and does not necessarily mean low in sugar.
Use the listed figures to describe the comparison, and check the exact pack before calling a biscuit ‘reduced sugars’.
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Comparing only one biscuit
Biscuits and suggested servings can differ in size, and guests may take more than one.
Compare per 100g first, then use the per-biscuit figure, where given, to work out the amount in the number you plan to serve.
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Mixing packs without their labels
Similar-looking custard creams can have different ingredients and precautionary allergen warnings.
Keep each applicable pack or label available, and check it before offering biscuits to guests with allergies.
Brand and product-line references
Tesco
Tesco Custard Cream Biscuits provide a standard 400g pack for comparing label figures.
- Tesco lists 28.3g sugars per 100g and 3.4g per biscuit.
- The listing contains wheat and milk; the lower figure relative to some biscuits here is not a ‘reduced sugars’ claim.
Asda
Asda lists its standard Custard Creams in a 400g pack.
- Asda lists 29g sugars per 100g, 3.4g per biscuit and a suggested 34 servings per pack.
- The listing contains wheat and milk and warns that the biscuits may also contain rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Crawford's
Crawford's Custard Creams are listed by Tesco as a 300g pack of vanilla-cream sandwich biscuits.
- Tesco lists 30.7g sugars per 100g, 3.6g per biscuit and approximately 26 biscuits per pack.
- These figures do not establish a ‘reduced sugars’ claim; check the pack’s allergen information before serving.
M&S
M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams are a 165g variant for hosts considering a different filling style.
- M&S describes more vanilla cream in each biscuit.
- M&S lists 40.2g sugars per 100g; its description of the filling is not an independent taste comparison.
McVitie's
McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams are listed by Morrisons as a 300g pack.
- The Morrisons listing identifies a custard-flavoured sandwich biscuit.
- It lists wheat and milk and a may-contain-sesame warning. Check the exact pack’s nutrition panel for a sugar comparison.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists its own-label Custard Creams in a 200g pack.
- The product listing gives 26.5g sugars per 100g and 3.3g per biscuit.
- Those figures describe the listed product, not a substantiated ‘reduced sugars’ claim.
Joybuy product option
A gluten-free custard cream option for a garden-party biscuit plate. Check its own nutrition and allergen label before choosing it for a sugar comparison or a guest’s dietary requirements.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
This 125g gluten-free pack offers a custard cream option for the party table. Compare the pack’s sugars per 100g with other biscuits, check whether it gives a per-biscuit figure, and read its exact allergen statement before serving.
Questions about serving custard creams
Does ‘reduced sugars’ mean low in sugar?
No. NHS My Health London says a reduced-sugar product contains 30% less sugar than a standard equivalent; that does not necessarily make it low in sugar. Check the claim on the exact custard cream and compare its total sugars per 100g.
What should I check for a guest with a milk, wheat or sesame allergy?
Read the actual pack’s ingredients and precautionary warnings before serving, and keep its label available for the guest. The examined standard listings contain wheat and milk, while some also give may-contain-sesame warnings; do not assume another pack has the same ingredients.
How should I put custard creams out for a garden party?
The examined packaged biscuits are ready to serve. Follow the exact pack’s storage directions: Tesco and Crawford's specify cool, dry storage and an airtight container after opening.
How can I work out how many packs to serve?
Use the exact pack’s biscuit or serving count where it is stated, alongside the number you plan to offer each guest. Pack weights alone do not tell you that differently sized biscuits will provide the same number of servings.
Do school-food rules prohibit custard creams at a private garden party?
The cited England rules do not establish a prohibition on serving custard creams at a private garden party. The Department for Education’s school food standards concern food provided to pupils on school premises in state-funded schools in England; the Department of Health and Social Care’s HFSS promotion guidance concerns qualifying retail promotions and placement in England. If the biscuits are instead being supplied to pupils at a school event, check the applicable school food standards and the school’s policy rather than applying the private-party conclusion.