Hosts sharing food across several households
Compare the total weight with the guest list. Inner packs may let you put out some biscuits while leaving the rest unopened.
Who is shopping for custard creams?
Neighbours bringing a smaller contribution
A single standard pack may be easier to bring and serve when other households are contributing food too. Check its weight rather than judging quantity by the packet’s appearance.
Hosts catering for dietary requirements
Check what guests need to avoid before shopping. ASDA Groceries lists wheat and milk in its standard custard creams, while its separately labelled Free From pack is described as gluten-free and milk-free.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with the amount you expect to serve, then check the pack format, current availability and any dietary requirements.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Compare net weights with the number of guests and the other food planned. Tesco Groceries lists 750g; ASDA Groceries lists a 400g standard pack, and Bestway Wholesale lists McVitie's at 300g. | For a large gathering, I need enough to share. If several neighbours are bringing snacks, a smaller contribution may be sufficient. |
| Pack format and availability | Check whether the pack has inner portions and whether it is currently available. Tesco Groceries describes its 750g pack as five 150g packs but showed it as out of stock. | I'd like to put out only part of the supply at first, but I need an available option before planning around it. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and precautionary statements. ASDA Groceries says its standard 400g pack contains wheat and milk and may contain rye, barley, oats and sesame; its 125g Free From pack is labelled gluten-free and milk-free. | Someone joining us avoids particular ingredients, so I need a clearly identified pack that meets their requirements. |
| Nutrition information | Compare labels on the same basis, such as per 100g, as well as any stated serving size. Marks & Spencer lists 40.2g sugars and 13.5g saturates per 100g for its Extra Cream Custard Creams. | If I'm comparing different biscuits, I want to understand what the label measures rather than assume that a smaller pack has different nutritional content. |
What can go wrong when buying for a group?
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Assuming standard and free-from biscuits are interchangeable
ASDA Groceries lists wheat and milk in its standard custard creams, while its Free From custard creams are labelled gluten-free and milk-free. The distinction matters when guests need to avoid those ingredients.
Ask guests about their requirements, check the current packaging and keep a specialist pack identifiable and separate when serving.
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Confusing a street party with a school-provided event
England’s retailer rules on certain less-healthy food promotions are separate from school-food standards. The Department of Health and Social Care’s promotion guidance concerns affected retail promotions, not whether a host should serve biscuits at a street party.
If a school in England is providing or approving the food, check its requirements with the school or caterer rather than applying ordinary street-party shopping advice to that event.
Which brands offer relevant options?
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists standard custard creams in a 750g format made up of five 150g packs.
- Inner packs allow the supply to be opened in stages.
- The listing showed the product as out of stock; check availability before relying on it.
Asda
ASDA Groceries lists a 400g standard pack and a separate 125g Free From pack.
- The Free From pack is labelled gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.
- The Free From pack is much smaller than the standard pack; check the current label for each guest’s requirements.
McVitie's
Bestway Wholesale describes McVitie's Custard Creams as a 300g vanilla-cream sandwich biscuit pack.
- The product information gives a typical count of 26 biscuits per pack.
- It contains wheat and milk and may contain sesame.
Crawford's
Crawford's describes its custard creams as vanilla-filled sandwich biscuits.
- Its stated biscuit format gives shoppers a point of comparison with other standard custard creams.
- Check the specific pack’s weight and current label before choosing it for a group.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists Extra Cream Custard Creams in a 165g pack made with custard powder.
- The product is a distinct extra-cream option for a small contribution.
- Marks & Spencer lists wheat, milk and soya in the ingredients, so check the label when sharing with guests.
A gluten-free option on Joybuy
This 125g Schar custard cream pack is a gluten-free option for a guest who needs one, rather than a family-sized pack for general sharing.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The 125g pack is an option to consider when a guest needs gluten-free custard creams. Check the current packaging for any other ingredient or allergen requirements before serving.
Common questions
How many custard cream packs should I bring to a street party?
Base the amount on guest numbers and what other food will be available, then compare pack weights. Tesco Groceries lists a 750g pack containing five 150g packs; ASDA Groceries lists a 400g standard pack, and Bestway Wholesale lists McVitie's at 300g. Check availability before making the larger pack part of your plan.
Can guests avoiding gluten or milk have ordinary custard creams?
Do not assume they can: ASDA Groceries lists wheat and milk in its standard custard creams. Its separate Free From pack is labelled gluten-free and milk-free, but check the current packaging and the guest’s specific requirements before serving it.
Do England’s food-promotion rules prohibit buying custard creams for a street party?
The Department of Health and Social Care’s guidance describes England’s Food (Promotion and Placement) Regulations 2021 as restrictions on certain less-healthy food and drink promotions and placement by affected retailers, not as a prohibition on a consumer buying biscuits for a street party. A custard cream’s category name alone does not establish whether a particular product falls within those rules.
What if a school in England is providing the food?
Check with the school or caterer before supplying biscuits. The Department for Education’s school-food guidance applies in England; a school-provided event calls for its applicable food standards and the school’s arrangements to be considered separately from an ordinary street party.