Who is choosing?

Fairtrade-cocoa shoppers

You want a biscuit for moving in with a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa statement, and a chocolate-coated custard cream suits you better than an ordinary one.

Shared-cupboard shoppers

You want ordinary custard creams in a pack that suits the people sharing them, with ingredients checked before you buy.

Free-from shoppers

You need a custard cream specifically labelled for the ingredient you must avoid, rather than assuming a standard pack will suit you.

What should you check?

Decide whether the Fairtrade cocoa statement, an ordinary biscuit or a particular dietary label matters most; then choose a pack you can store and share appropriately.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fairtrade claim Read the statement on the exact pack and identify which ingredient it covers. The M&S information displayed by Ocado describes Fairtrade cocoa sourcing on a mass-balance basis, which permits mixing during processing. I want a documented cocoa-sourcing claim, and I am happy to buy a chocolate-coated biscuit rather than an ordinary custard cream.
Style and pack size Choose coated or ordinary biscuits, then compare the stated weights. Tesco and Asda list ordinary 400g packs; Sainsbury’s lists a 200g ordinary pack. For a shared cupboard, I want enough ordinary biscuits without choosing a larger pack than we expect to use.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information for everyone who will eat the biscuits. Tesco labels its separate 125g Free From custard creams gluten-free and milk-free; that description does not apply to its ordinary pack. Someone sharing the biscuits needs a specifically labelled option, so I cannot choose by the biscuit’s appearance alone.
Storage Check the selected pack’s instructions for storage after opening. Tesco and Asda advise keeping their ordinary custard creams in an airtight container once opened. I need a pack I can keep according to its instructions after moving in, especially if we will eat it over several days.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming Fairtrade cocoa covers the whole biscuit

    The M&S statement displayed by Ocado concerns cocoa sourcing and explains mass balance. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes ingredient-specific claims from marks covering all ingredients eligible for Fairtrade certification.

    Read the mark and wording on the exact pack, then check which ingredient the claim names.

  • Confusing palm-oil and Fairtrade claims

    The Sainsbury’s and Crawford’s product information makes palm-oil sourcing claims. Those claims do not establish Fairtrade cocoa sourcing.

    If cocoa sourcing is your priority, look for a separate Fairtrade statement for the product you intend to buy.

  • Choosing a shared pack without checking allergens

    The M&S chocolate-coated product lists milk, soya and wheat; Sainsbury’s ordinary custard creams also carry a warning for people with a barley allergy related to manufacturing methods.

    Check the current pack against each intended eater’s relevant allergens before buying or sharing.

Brand and product references

M&S

The M&S information displayed by Ocado describes both an ordinary Extra Cream Custard Cream and a separate milk-chocolate-coated biscuit.

  • The coated product has a Fairtrade cocoa sourcing statement that explains its mass-balance basis.
  • Do not apply that statement to the ordinary Extra Cream Custard Cream.

Tesco

Tesco lists a 400g ordinary vanilla custard cream and a separate 125g Free From version.

  • The Free From version is labelled gluten-free and milk-free.
  • The ordinary pack lists wheat and milk ingredients; the Free From label is not a Fairtrade cocoa claim.

Asda

Asda describes its 400g custard creams as ordinary biscuits with a vanilla-flavour filling.

  • The stated 400g weight gives shared-cupboard shoppers a pack size to compare.
  • The product information identifies wheat and milk; check the current pack before sharing.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s lists a 200g ordinary custard cream pack.

  • Its stated weight offers a smaller ordinary pack than the 400g Tesco and Asda examples.
  • The listing identifies wheat and milk ingredients and warns that the biscuits are unsuitable for people with a barley allergy because of manufacturing methods.

Crawford’s

Tesco describes Crawford’s 300g custard creams as vanilla-cream sandwich biscuits.

  • The stated 300g weight offers another ordinary pack size to consider.
  • The product’s RSPO-segregated palm-oil statement is not a Fairtrade cocoa claim.

Joybuy product options

This custard cream option is for a moving-in cupboard where a gluten-free label matters. Check the product itself for any cocoa-sourcing claim if Fairtrade is your priority.

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

This 125g gluten-free custard cream pack is an option when that label matters for a moving-in cupboard. Check the current ingredients and allergen information before sharing; a gluten-free label does not, by itself, answer other dietary questions or establish a Fairtrade cocoa claim.

View on Joybuy

Questions about choosing

Does Fairtrade cocoa mean every ingredient is Fairtrade?

No. The M&S statement displayed by Ocado concerns the quantity of cocoa sourced as Fairtrade and explains that mass balance permits mixing during processing. The Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes an ingredient-specific mark from a mark covering all ingredients eligible for Fairtrade certification.

What if someone sharing the biscuits has a food allergy?

Check the current pack for that person’s relevant allergens before sharing. GOV.UK guidance says allergens present in prepacked food must be clearly identified in the ingredients list; product details differ, and Sainsbury’s ordinary pack also carries a barley-allergy warning related to manufacturing methods.

How should I store custard creams after moving in?

Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. Tesco and Asda advise keeping their ordinary custard creams in an airtight container after opening.

What should I look for on a UK biscuit label?

Check the food name, ingredients, net quantity, relevant date marking and any storage instructions. GOV.UK’s food-labelling guidance covers those particulars, while its allergen guidance says any of the 14 regulated allergens present in prepacked food must be clearly labelled in the ingredients list.