Fairtrade-focused chocolate-biscuit buyers
If the cocoa sourcing matters to you, distinguish a claim about cocoa from certification of the entire chocolate-coated biscuit.
Who is choosing?
Classic custard-cream sharers
If you want vanilla-cream sandwich biscuits to pass around, compare the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen statement rather than assuming its Fairtrade status from the biscuit type.
Buyers avoiding gluten
A gluten-free custard-cream-style biscuit addresses a different requirement from Fairtrade sourcing. Check both claims separately if both matter to you.
What should you check?
Start with the claim or dietary requirement that determines your choice, then check the precise variant you intend to share.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade scope | Read the FAIRTRADE Mark and accompanying wording. The M&S chocolate-coated biscuit’s product information describes its cocoa quantity as sourced, traded and audited as Fairtrade; it also says cocoa may be mixed with non-certified cocoa during processing. | I want to know which ingredient the Fairtrade statement covers, rather than assume it applies to the whole biscuit. |
| Biscuit format | Decide between a plain vanilla-cream sandwich biscuit and a chocolate-coated custard cream. Check the exact product name and pack format before buying. | For sharing at the cinema, would I prefer a familiar plain custard cream or one coated in milk chocolate? |
| Allergens | Read the current label for the exact variant. The reviewed McVitie’s custard creams contain wheat and milk and may contain sesame; the M&S chocolate-coated product information lists milk, soya, wheat and gluten. | Someone sharing my snacks may need me to check more than the biscuit’s flavour or appearance. |
| Gluten avoidance | Look for a gluten-free statement on the exact pack. Schär describes its Custard Creams as gluten-free, but that designation is separate from a Fairtrade claim. | If I need to avoid gluten, that requirement comes before choosing between plain and chocolate-coated biscuits. |
Assumptions to avoid
-
Assuming Fairtrade cocoa certifies the whole biscuit
The M&S product information makes a claim about cocoa, not every ingredient. It also describes mass balance, under which Fairtrade and non-certified cocoa may be mixed during processing.
Check the precise FAIRTRADE Mark and wording on the pack, and identify the ingredient to which the claim applies.
-
Assuming a plain custard cream has a Fairtrade claim
A brand’s wider sourcing statements do not establish the claim for a particular plain biscuit. The reviewed information for the plain McVitie’s, M&S and Co-op products does not establish one.
If Fairtrade sourcing is decisive, look for a claim on the current pack of the exact product rather than relying on its brand or category.
-
Overlooking allergens when sharing
The reviewed plain McVitie’s biscuits contain milk and wheat and may contain sesame. The M&S chocolate-coated variant also lists soya among its allergens.
Read each unopened pack before serving, particularly if anyone sharing the snacks has an allergy or intolerance.
Relevant brand references
Claims and ingredients differ between products from the same brand, so use these examples to identify which pack needs checking.
M&S
Offers both a plain Extra Cream Custard Cream and a milk-chocolate-coated custard cream.
- Ocado’s information for the chocolate-coated product states that its cocoa quantity is sourced, traded and audited as Fairtrade.
- That cocoa statement does not certify the entire biscuit. The reviewed plain Extra Cream product information does not establish a Fairtrade claim.
McVitie’s
Its reviewed 300g custard creams offer the plain vanilla-cream sandwich-biscuit format.
- The reviewed product information identifies a 300g pack suitable for vegetarians.
- The biscuits contain wheat and milk and may contain sesame. The reviewed information does not establish a Fairtrade claim for this product.
Schär
Makes a gluten-free custard-cream-style biscuit with a vanilla filling.
- Schär identifies its Custard Creams as gluten-free.
- Gluten-free status does not establish Fairtrade sourcing; check the current pack if that claim also matters.
Co-op
Its reviewed 300g custard creams are vanilla-filling sandwich biscuits.
- The reviewed listing identifies the pack size and ingredients, including wheat flour and whey solids from milk.
- A wider cocoa-sourcing statement does not establish a Fairtrade claim for this particular custard cream.
Joybuy product options
This gluten-free custard-cream option is relevant when avoiding gluten is your main requirement for a cinema snack. Its product name does not establish a Fairtrade claim.
No image available
Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A gluten-free custard-cream-style biscuit to consider when avoiding gluten takes priority. Schär describes a creamy vanilla filling; check the current pack’s allergen information before sharing. Gluten-free status does not establish a Fairtrade claim.
Common questions
Does Fairtrade cocoa mean every ingredient in a custard cream is Fairtrade?
No. The M&S chocolate-coated custard cream’s product information says the cocoa quantity is sourced, traded and audited as Fairtrade; it does not make that claim for every ingredient. The information also says the cocoa may be mixed with non-certified cocoa during processing, so check the exact wording on the current pack.
Which custard cream has a documented Fairtrade connection?
M&S Milk Chocolate Coated Custard Cream has a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa statement in Ocado’s product information. This identifies a cocoa claim, not whole-biscuit certification; confirm the wording on the pack you buy.
What should I check before sharing custard creams?
Check the allergen declaration on each exact pack. The reviewed McVitie’s plain custard creams contain wheat and milk and may contain sesame, while the M&S chocolate-coated variant’s product information lists milk, soya, wheat and gluten.
Do HFSS promotion rules ban custard creams as cinema snacks?
The Department of Health and Social Care’s guidance on foods high in fat, sugar or salt addresses promotions and placement of certain products in retail stores and their online equivalents; it does not establish a general ban on eating custard creams at the cinema. A product’s status under those rules should not be assumed from its biscuit category alone.