For a morning tea break, choose a chocolate-coated custard cream if you want chocolate and a product-specific Fairtrade cocoa statement: the M&S coated biscuit makes that claim, but it does not establish that every ingredient is Fairtrade. If you prefer a plain vanilla-filled custard cream, compare the exact pack on its own terms rather than extending a cocoa claim from another biscuit. Check the pack’s sourcing wording and allergens before serving.
If you want chocolate with your custard cream, distinguish a claim about its cocoa from one covering the whole biscuit. The M&S coated product’s cocoa wording and the Fairtrade Foundation’s explanation of sourced-ingredient marks make that distinction important.
If an uncoated, vanilla-filled biscuit is what you want with tea, compare the particular packs’ sizes, ingredients and allergen information. A cocoa claim on a different product does not apply to a plain custard cream.
If someone eating the biscuits avoids an ingredient, check the pack you will serve. The examined conventional varieties list wheat and milk ingredients; a separately labelled gluten-free custard cream offers a different option, not a Fairtrade sourcing assurance.
Decide whether you want a plain or chocolate-coated biscuit, then check sourcing claims and ingredients on that exact variety.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade scope | Read which ingredient the pack names. The M&S coated biscuit’s statement covers the required cocoa quantity and allows mass balance, meaning cocoa may be mixed during processing; the Fairtrade Foundation distinguishes sourced-ingredient claims from broader marks. | I want a cocoa-sourcing claim I can describe accurately, without assuming the whole biscuit is Fairtrade-certified. |
| Biscuit type | Check for a chocolate coating or a plain vanilla-filled biscuit. Compare the pack weight or biscuit count for the particular variety rather than assuming packs contain equivalent amounts. | For this tea break, would I rather serve a plain custard cream or one with chocolate coating? |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the actual pack before serving. The examined conventional biscuits list wheat and milk ingredients; the coated M&S variety also lists soya. A gluten-free label addresses a separate question from Fairtrade sourcing. | Someone sharing the biscuits may need to avoid an ingredient, so the exact pack matters more than the flavour name. |
| Storage and portions | Follow the pack’s directions after opening. The examined Tesco and Asda listings advise an airtight container; the examined Schär 125g variety is listed as five portion packs. | If the biscuits will last beyond one break, I want a pack format and storage directions that suit how we will use them. |
The examined M&S coated biscuit’s statement concerns its cocoa quantity. Its mass-balance wording also allows cocoa to be mixed with non-certified cocoa during processing.
Name the ingredient covered by the claim, and read the mark and wording on the particular pack before making a broader statement.
The examined M&S plain custard cream has no cocoa in its displayed ingredients. The separate coated biscuit’s claim does not describe it.
Compare each variety’s own ingredients and sourcing wording, even when both carry the same retailer brand.
The examined plain and coated varieties have different ingredient and allergen information. A Fairtrade claim does not address dietary suitability.
Read the pack being served for every relevant allergen or intolerance; check gluten-free labelling and sourcing claims separately.
These references concern particular listed biscuits, not every product made or sold under each name.
Ocado lists both an M&S milk-chocolate-coated custard cream and a separate plain Extra Cream variety.
Tesco’s listed 400g Custard Cream Biscuits are a plain, vanilla-filled option.
Asda lists a 400g pack of conventional custard creams.
Sainsbury’s examined own-label 200g listing describes a conventional custard cream.
Iceland Foods lists Crawford’s 300g vanilla-filled custard-cream sandwich biscuits.
A Joybuy listing describes McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams 300g as a conventional biscuit.
This gluten-free custard cream is an option for a tea break where gluten avoidance matters. Check sourcing wording separately if Fairtrade cocoa is part of your choice.
No image available
A gluten-free custard cream to consider when choosing biscuits for someone avoiding gluten. The 125g variety is listed as five portion packs, with rice and maize ingredients. Check the pack against all relevant dietary requirements; gluten-free labelling is not a Fairtrade sourcing claim.
No. The examined M&S statement applies to the quantity of cocoa required for that product and explains that mass balance permits mixing during processing. The Fairtrade Foundation says a Fairtrade Sourced Ingredient mark identifies the particular ingredient covered. Read the mark and wording on the biscuit’s own pack before making a broader claim.
Follow the storage directions on the pack you bought. The examined Tesco and Asda listings advise an airtight container once opened, while Tesco also specifies a cool, dry place.
Do not assume they are: the examined conventional listings include wheat and milk-derived ingredients. A separately labelled gluten-free Schär custard cream offers an option to check for gluten avoidance, but its label must still be checked against every other relevant dietary requirement.