Hosts comparing sugar figures
Compare the listed sugar per 100g, then check the amount in each biscuit. A lower figure in this group of products is not, by itself, a formal reduced-sugars claim.
Who is choosing?
Hosts catering for food exclusions
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you will serve. Gluten-, wheat- and milk-free descriptions address different questions from the sugar declaration.
Hosts buying for a group
Use pack weight to plan how many biscuits to buy. The checked packs range from Lovemore’s 110g pack to Tesco’s 400g ordinary custard creams; follow each pack’s storage instructions after opening.
What should you compare?
Start with the same per-100g sugar measure across products, then check portions, food exclusions and the quantity needed for the party.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar comparison | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100g. Tesco lists 19.9g for Free From and 28.3g for ordinary custard creams; Lovemore lists 20.1g, Sainsbury’s 26.5g and Crawford’s 30.7g for the specified products. Check the current packs before relying on these figures. | I want to compare the biscuits on the same basis, without assuming that a lower listed figure amounts to a reduced-sugars claim. |
| Portions | Read sugar per biscuit alongside biscuit weight: Tesco lists 2.8g sugars per 14g Free From biscuit, while Tesco’s ordinary listing gives 3.4g per biscuit. Different biscuit sizes make per-biscuit figures a poor substitute for a per-100g comparison. | When putting out biscuits for guests, I want to know what the serving figure refers to, not just which number looks smaller. |
| Food exclusions | Check the full ingredients and precautionary information on the pack. Tesco describes its Free From biscuits as gluten- and milk-free; Lovemore describes its biscuits as gluten-, wheat- and milk-free. | A guest may need a particular ingredient excluded, so I need to check the exact biscuits I serve rather than assume every free-from pack meets the same needs. |
| Pack planning | Match pack weight to the number of guests: the checked Lovemore, Tesco Free From and Tesco ordinary packs are 110g, 125g and 400g respectively. Follow the chosen pack’s storage directions once opened. | I want enough biscuits for sharing and a way to keep any opened packs as directed until they are served. |
Common buying mistakes
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Calling a free-from biscuit sugar-free
Tesco Free From lists 19.9g sugars per 100g, and Lovemore lists 20.1g. Their ingredient exclusions do not describe their sugar content.
Use the nutrition declaration on the current pack when comparing sugar, and keep food-exclusion claims separate.
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Comparing only sugar per biscuit
Tesco specifies a 14g Free From biscuit, whereas Crawford’s specifies an 11.9g biscuit. Their per-biscuit sugar figures therefore refer to different amounts of food.
Compare per 100g first, then use the per-biscuit figure for the portion you plan to serve.
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Assuming every free-from pack suits every guest
Food exclusions differ between products, and online ingredient information can change.
Check the delivered pack’s ingredients and precautionary allergen information against each guest’s relevant exclusions before serving.
Relevant brand references
Tesco
Its Free From and ordinary custard creams offer a comparison within the same retailer’s listings.
- Tesco lists 19.9g sugars per 100g for the 125g Free From pack and 28.3g for the 400g ordinary pack.
- The Free From listing identifies gluten and milk exclusions; its lower listed sugar figure is not a formal reduced-sugars claim.
Sainsbury’s
Its 200g ordinary custard creams provide a conventional biscuit comparison.
- Sainsbury’s lists 26.5g sugars per 100g and 3.3g per biscuit for this product.
- Check the current listing and pack when planning party quantities.
Crawford’s
The 300g custard creams are a conventional branded comparison.
- Tesco’s listing gives 30.7g sugars per 100g and 3.6g per 11.9g biscuit.
- The per-biscuit figure should be read with its biscuit weight when comparing portions.
McVitie’s
Tasties Custard Creams are a branded 300g option to check against guests’ ingredient needs.
- Morrisons identifies the Tasties 300g variant in its product listing.
- That listing identifies wheat and milk and says the product may contain sesame; check the pack before serving.
M&S
Extra Cream Custard Creams are a 165g variant distinguished by their filling.
- M&S describes vanilla cream and custard powder in this product.
- Choose it for the stated filling style, not on an assumed sugar reduction; check its nutrition label for a sugar comparison.
Lovemore
Its Vegan Custard Creams are a 110g free-from option.
- Lovemore describes the biscuits as gluten-, wheat- and milk-free and lists 20.1g sugars per 100g.
- The sugar declaration does not make them sugar-free; check the physical pack before buying for an exclusion.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This gluten-free custard cream option may be relevant when planning biscuits for a guest who needs that exclusion. Check its current nutrition and full allergen label separately when comparing sugar and other ingredients.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The gluten-free description is relevant if a party guest needs that exclusion. This is a 125g pack; check its current sugar declaration per 100g and full allergen information before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘free from’ mean reduced sugar?
No. Tesco Free From lists 19.9g sugars per 100g and Lovemore lists 20.1g per 100g. Their food-exclusion descriptions and sugar declarations answer different questions; these figures do not establish a formal reduced-sugars claim.
How should I store opened custard creams?
Follow the directions on the pack you buy. Tesco’s ordinary custard creams listing says to store them in a cool, dry place and put them in an airtight container once opened.
What if the delivered pack differs from its online description?
Read the delivered pack before serving, particularly when a guest has an ingredient exclusion. Tesco advises that recipes, nutrition and allergen information can change and that customers should not rely solely on its website.
Do England’s school-food rules apply to a private Christmas party?
No. The Department for Education describes England’s school-food requirements as applying to food and drink provided to pupils at state-funded schools on school premises, not to a private party. That guidance does not establish an individual HFSS classification for every custard cream; the further school-standard changes described for September 2027 remain subject to Parliamentary approval.