Who is this for?

Consumers comparing sugars

If a lower-sugar custard is your priority for a late dessert, compare tins by total sugars per 100g, then consider how much you expect to serve.

Consumers wanting a quick supper

If you want custard without mixing a powder, look at whether a tin can be served cold or warmed. The pack size and directions for leftovers also matter if you will not finish it at once.

Consumers weighing up value

If you are choosing between ready-to-serve tins, compare their current unit prices alongside their sugar figures. A ‘light’ label may describe a reduction in fat rather than sugars.

What matters when choosing?

For a late supper, decide whether ready-to-serve convenience is essential, then compare sugar labels and the amount you are likely to use.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Total sugars Compare ready-to-serve tins by total sugars per 100g, then check what any reduced-sugar claim is compared with. If I want to reduce sugars in a late dessert, a ‘light’ label alone does not answer my question. About 50% of consumers put lower total sugars first.
Serving and storage Check whether preparation or heating is needed and how to store any leftovers after opening. When supper is late, I may want custard I can serve without mixing and a pack I can use up as directed. Ready-to-eat convenience is the primary need for about 30% of consumers.
Value Compare current unit prices for similar pack formats, alongside the per-100g sugar figures. If I am buying custard for the household, I want to weigh the cost against the sugar figure rather than assume two ‘light’ tins are alike. About 20% of consumers make value their first concern.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘light’ means reduced sugar

    Ambrosia says its Light Devon Custard has 30% less sugar and fat than its standard Devon Custard. ASDA describes its Light Custard as 50% less fat than its standard equivalent; that wording does not establish a sugar reduction.

    Read each claim’s qualifier and compare total sugars per 100g. ASDA Groceries lists 7.4g for Ambrosia Light and 8.3g for ASDA Light Custard.

  • Comparing only the suggested portions

    Ambrosia gives three 130g servings for its 400g Light can, while ASDA suggests two servings for its 400g Light Custard. Per-serving figures therefore reflect different portion sizes.

    Compare the per-100g figures first, then use the pack information to assess the portion you plan to serve.

  • Choosing a powder when you need a ready-to-serve tin

    Tesco’s No Added Sugar Instant Custard Mix requires boiling water and contains sucralose. It is not a ready-to-eat substitute when you want to open and serve custard immediately.

    Choose the powder format only if its preparation and ingredients suit your plans for supper.

  • Leaving custard in an opened can

    Ambrosia’s directions for its Light 400g can say to remove unused contents, refrigerate them and consume them within three days. Directions can differ between products.

    Plan for the can size and follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy.

Brands to consider across custard formats

Ambrosia

Its Ready To Serve Light Devon Custard is a 400g tin relevant to a reduced-sugar, ready-to-eat choice.

  • Ambrosia states that the Light tin has 30% less sugar and fat than its standard Devon Custard; ASDA Groceries lists 7.4g sugars per 100g.
  • The reduction is relative to Ambrosia’s standard product, not a claim that the custard is low in sugars. The tin contains milk, and unused contents need refrigeration after opening.

ASDA

ASDA Light Custard is a 400g ready-to-serve tin to compare with other tins.

  • ASDA Groceries lists 8.3g sugars per 100g, giving shoppers a figure for a like-for-like label comparison.
  • ASDA’s stated ‘light’ comparison concerns fat, so check the sugar figure separately if reducing sugars is your priority.

Tesco

Tesco’s No Added Sugar Instant Custard Mix offers a preparation-based alternative to a tin.

  • The instant mix is labelled no added sugar.
  • It is a powder made with boiling water and contains sucralose; it should not be compared with a ready-to-serve tin as though the formats were identical.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury’s custard range is a reference point when comparing tins with cartons and instant powder.

  • The different formats give shoppers a way to choose between immediate serving and preparation.
  • A lighter carton or no-added-sugar powder should not be treated as a reduced-sugar, ready-to-eat tin. Check the format and nutrition panel of the exact product.

Bird's

Bird’s is relevant here as a custard-powder option rather than a ready-to-eat tin.

  • Tesco Groceries lists Bird’s Original Custard Powder in its custard-powder range.
  • Powder involves preparation. Check the exact product’s ingredients and nutrition information rather than assuming it matches a reduced-sugar tin.

M&S

M&S Silky Smooth Custard is a 400g tin for comparison when you are considering ready-to-serve formats.

  • Marks & Spencer lists 9.7g sugars per 100g and identifies whole milk, cream and sugar among its ingredients.
  • Do not treat this tin as a reduced-sugar option on the basis of its name; compare its label with the other tins you are considering.

Joybuy product selection

This selection covers a 400g custard can to consider when you want a ready-to-serve option for a late supper. If reducing sugars is essential, check the current pack’s nutrition panel and claim wording before choosing it.

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

A 400g custard can to consider when you want a quick late-supper serving. If lower sugars are your priority, compare the current pack’s total sugars per 100g and check whether it makes a reduced-sugar claim; ‘Low Fat’ in the name does not answer either question. Follow the pack’s heating and opened-can storage directions.

Joybuy

Common questions

Is reduced-sugar custard automatically low in sugars?

No. A reduction compares a product with another product; it does not describe its total sugar content on its own. ASDA Groceries lists Ambrosia Light at 7.4g sugars per 100g, above the NHS figure of 5g or less per 100g for a food to be described as low in sugars.

How do I compare tins with different suggested portions?

Compare total sugars per 100g first, then look at the amount you expect to serve. Ambrosia and ASDA suggest different numbers of servings for their 400g Light tins, so their per-serving figures are not based on the same portion size.

Can I heat Ambrosia Light Custard in its can?

Follow Ambrosia’s directions to empty the custard into a saucepan for hob heating or a microwaveable container for microwave heating. Do not use the can as the heating container.

What should I check if milk is an allergen for me?

Read the current label of the exact custard before consuming it. The Ambrosia Light and ASDA Light product information identifies milk, and recipes and allergen statements need to be checked for the pack you have.

Does no added sugar mean sugar-free custard?

No. ‘No added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’ are different claims. Tesco’s No Added Sugar Instant Custard Mix is a powder containing sucralose, so check its prepared nutrition information and allow for mixing it with boiling water.