For a chocolate-coated custard cream with a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa statement, Ocado lists the M&S 191 g pack; the claim concerns cocoa sourced through mass balance, not every ingredient. If you prefer a plain biscuit, the checked McVitie's, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda listings offer that format, but do not establish a Fairtrade claim for those products. For an outing, check the exact pack's allergens and storage directions too.
If cocoa sourcing matters to you, look for a statement tied to the exact chocolate-coated biscuit. Ocado's M&S listing specifies Fairtrade cocoa, while Fairtrade Foundation guidance explains why mass balance does not mean the cocoa in each biscuit was kept separate.
Check the pack size, ingredients and allergens for everyone sharing the biscuits. Storage matters as well: the M&S chocolate-coated pack says to keep it cool, dry and away from sunlight, according to Marks & Spencer.
Decide whether a Fairtrade cocoa statement is essential, then compare the biscuit format and the practical requirements of taking it out.
Consider when: You want both features; Ocado's listing for the M&S 191 g coated custard cream states that its cocoa quantity is sourced, traded and audited as Fairtrade.
Bear in mind: The statement concerns cocoa rather than every ingredient, and Fairtrade Foundation guidance explains that mass-balance cocoa may be mixed during processing.
Consider when: You want a chocolate-coated biscuit but do not specifically require Fairtrade cocoa; Asda lists Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa for its 162 g coated custard creams.
Bear in mind: Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade are distinct certification programmes, as the Rainforest Alliance explains.
Consider when: A vanilla-filled sandwich biscuit without a chocolate coating is the format you want; McVitie's, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda have checked plain listings.
Bear in mind: Those listings do not establish a Fairtrade claim for the plain biscuits, and their pack sizes and allergen statements differ.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | Read the claim on the exact product. Check which ingredient it covers and whether it describes mass balance. | I want to know whether the cocoa has a Fairtrade sourcing claim, rather than assuming the whole biscuit is certified. |
| Biscuit format | Choose between a plain vanilla-filled sandwich biscuit and a chocolate-coated version. Compare the stated pack weights if you plan to share. | A plain biscuit may be what I want; a cocoa-sourcing claim matters to me only if I choose a product containing cocoa. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and precautionary statements on the supplied pack. Do not carry one product's information over to another. | If someone sharing the biscuits has an allergy, I need the information for the exact pack they will eat. |
| Storage | Follow the chosen pack's storage and after-opening directions. Marks & Spencer specifies a cool, dry place away from sunlight for its coated custard cream. | I need somewhere suitable to keep the biscuits during the outing, particularly if I choose a chocolate-coated pack. |
A chocolate ingredient is not a Fairtrade claim. Sainsbury's wider Fairtrade partnership, for example, does not establish certification for its listed plain custard creams.
Match any certification wording to the exact biscuit and ingredient on the pack.
Asda's coated custard creams identify Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa; the Rainforest Alliance describes its programme and Fairtrade as distinct schemes.
Check for the particular certification you want rather than substituting one mark for another.
Ocado's Fairtrade cocoa statement concerns the M&S 191 g chocolate-coated product. Its Extra Cream Custard Creams are a different, plain product.
Check the full product name and pack before relying on a sourcing statement.
The listed biscuits have differing allergen information, and storage directions affect where you can keep a pack during an outing.
Read the supplied pack for everyone sharing it and follow its storage instructions.
These details concern specific listed biscuits, not certification or availability across an entire brand.
A reference for shoppers comparing chocolate-coated custard creams and product-specific cocoa sourcing.
Its listed custard creams include plain and chocolate-coated formats.
Its listed own-label options include plain custard creams and a milk-chocolate-coated version.
Its listed own-label custard creams are a plain, uncoated option.
Tasties Custard Creams are a listed plain, vanilla-filled option.
A UK wholesaler, Brand Factory Ltd, lists Crawford's custard creams in a 300 g pack.
This option is a custard cream for shoppers considering the plain-biscuit format; check its exact pack if a Fairtrade cocoa claim is part of your decision.
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A 125g custard cream pack labelled gluten free for shoppers considering a plain biscuit. Before taking it on an outing, check the supplied pack's ingredients, allergens and storage directions; if Fairtrade cocoa matters to you, look for a claim applicable to this exact product.
No. Ocado's statement for the M&S 191 g coated custard cream concerns the quantity of cocoa sourced on Fairtrade terms, not every ingredient in the biscuit.
Not necessarily. The Fairtrade Foundation explains that, under mass balance, certified commodities may be mixed with non-certified supplies while a corresponding quantity is sourced on Fairtrade terms.
No. Asda identifies Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa in its coated custard creams, and the Rainforest Alliance describes the two as distinct certification programmes. Check for the mark you specifically want.
Read the ingredients and allergen statements on the actual pack. UK government food-labelling guidance covers ingredient lists including allergens, and the listed custard creams have differing product-specific statements.
Follow the chosen pack's storage and after-opening directions. Marks & Spencer says to keep its chocolate-coated custard cream in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, so account for where the pack will be kept during the outing.