Fairtrade-minded buffet organisers
If you want to describe a biscuit or its ingredients as Fairtrade, check the mark on the exact product. A chocolate coating or a palm-oil sourcing statement does not establish a Fairtrade claim.
Who is this for?
Organisers serving mixed dietary needs
Keep alternatives identifiable and use the purchased packs to check ingredients and precautions before sharing information with guests. A vegan description alone does not answer every allergen question.
Organisers planning a shared biscuit table
Look for a stated biscuit or serving count when estimating quantities, and follow each selected pack’s storage directions before and after opening.
What should you check?
Decide what you want to say about Fairtrade sourcing, then work out quantities and how you will identify the biscuits for guests.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade wording | Check the exact pack for a Fairtrade mark and which product or ingredient it covers. For homemade biscuits, identify any marked ingredient specifically. | I want buffet signs to say precisely what is Fairtrade. Co-op’s custard cream recipe specifies Fairtrade icing sugar, which does not certify the finished biscuits. |
| Portions and format | Compare pack weights and any stated biscuit or serving counts; weight alone does not give a biscuit count. Tesco lists a 400g custard cream pack, while its Crawford’s listing gives approximately 26 biscuits in a 300g pack. | How many biscuits should I allow for the table? A stated count helps me plan, but I’ll confirm the pack I buy. |
| Ingredients and alternatives | Read each purchased pack’s ingredients and precautions. Tesco’s conventional custard creams list wheat and milk; its separate Free From custard creams are described as rice-flour biscuits suitable for vegans. | I need guests to be able to tell the alternatives apart and check whether a particular biscuit meets their own requirements. |
| Storage | Check the selected pack’s directions for unopened and opened biscuits, and plan when to put them out. | I’m preparing a shared table, so I need a way to store opened packs according to their labels. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming chocolate coating means Fairtrade cocoa
M&S lists cocoa ingredients in its chocolate-coated custard creams, but the coating itself does not establish a Fairtrade claim.
Check the exact pack and any named ingredient covered by its mark before describing it on a buffet sign.
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Confusing dietary or palm-oil statements with Fairtrade
Vegan suitability, palm-oil sourcing and Fairtrade describe different attributes; one cannot establish another.
Check each claim separately against the product you intend to serve.
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Using pack weight as a biscuit count
Pack sizes and biscuit formats differ, so a weight cannot tell you how many individual biscuits will be on the table.
Use a stated count where available and check the purchased pack when finalising quantities.
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Leaving a dietary alternative unlabelled
A separate formulation is difficult for guests to identify if it is mixed with conventional biscuits.
Keep the choices distinguishable and refer to their actual packs when communicating ingredients and precautions.
Brand and product-line references
These examples show different custard cream formats and pack information; brand inclusion does not establish Fairtrade status for a particular biscuit.
Tesco
Tesco lists a conventional 400g pack and a separate 125g Free From custard cream.
- The conventional pack lists wheat and milk; Tesco describes the Free From biscuits as rice-flour-based and suitable for vegans.
- Check the exact pack for any Fairtrade claim and for ingredients relevant to each guest.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream custard creams and a separate chocolate-coated version.
- Marks & Spencer lists the Extra Cream pack at 165g and the chocolate-coated version at 64g.
- Cocoa ingredients in the coated biscuit do not, by themselves, establish Fairtrade cocoa.
Crawford’s
Tesco lists Crawford’s conventional custard creams in a 300g pack.
- Tesco gives a typical count of approximately 26 biscuits per pack for portion planning.
- Confirm supply and check the purchased pack before relying on it for the buffet.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists an own-label 200g custard cream pack.
- Its listing gives approximately 16 servings, which should not be read as an exact biscuit count.
- Check the purchased pack’s ingredients and any Fairtrade mark rather than inferring either from the brand.
Asda
Asda lists an own-label 400g custard cream pack.
- Asda suggests 34 servings for this pack; use the serving information on the pack you purchase when planning.
- Read the delivered label for current ingredients and any Fairtrade claim.
McVitie’s
A McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams listing identifies a 300g pack.
- The named pack size provides a starting point for comparing formats.
- Check supply and the exact pack’s ingredients and marks before including it in the buffet plan.
Joybuy product options
These options include a gluten-free custard cream biscuit and two different custard-filled formats. A custard pastry or pie is not a substitute for a traditional custard cream if that biscuit is what you want to serve; check any Fairtrade claim on the exact product.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A custard cream biscuit option to consider when a gluten-free choice is needed. The pack is 125g; check its full ingredients, precautions and any Fairtrade mark before serving.
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MarineGold Bungeoppang Custard Family Pack 1kg
This 1kg custard-filled option is a different format from custard cream biscuits. Check the pack’s storage and ingredient directions when deciding whether it fits the buffet.
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Orion Custard Pie 138g, 6 small packs
The stated six small packs offer a way to count portions, but custard pie is a different format from a custard cream biscuit. Check the purchased pack’s ingredients and any Fairtrade mark.
Frequently asked questions
Does chocolate coating mean a custard cream uses Fairtrade cocoa?
No. M&S lists cocoa ingredients in its chocolate-coated custard creams, but cocoa content alone does not establish Fairtrade status. Check the exact pack for a relevant mark and the ingredient it names.
Can I call homemade custard creams Fairtrade if I use Fairtrade sugar?
Describe the marked sugar specifically, rather than calling the finished biscuits Fairtrade-certified. Co-op’s custard cream recipe uses Fairtrade icing sugar; check the mark on the sugar you actually buy.
How should I store custard creams for the buffet?
Follow the directions on the packs you purchase, including any instructions that change after opening. Plan when to open and put out the biscuits so those directions remain practical.
Can I rely on a product page for event-day ingredients and supply?
Use the delivered pack to check ingredients and precautions, and confirm the quantity you need with the retailer ahead of the event. A product page is useful for planning but does not fix the formulation or supply for a future order.