Choose custard creams explicitly labelled gluten-free, then check the pack you receive against each guest’s other dietary requirements. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda list 125 g gluten-free own-label packs; the Schär listing offers five smaller portion packs. The checked Crawford’s and M&S Extra Cream custard creams contain wheat, so the product name alone is not enough to make the choice.
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the received pack. If conventional biscuits will also be served, plan separate, clean serving equipment; Coeliac UK advises cleaning food-contact surfaces and utensils to avoid cross-contact.
Gluten-free does not answer every allergen question. The checked Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda own-label listings also say milk-free, but compare each guest’s requirements with the label on the pack you receive.
Decide whether a standard 125 g pack or Schär’s five packs of two biscuits suits the way you intend to serve them. Keep gluten-free biscuits apart from wheat-containing ones.
Start with the gluten-free claim, then check other dietary requirements and the practicalities of serving the biscuits at Christmas.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the received pack and read its ingredients and allergen information. The Food Standards Agency states that a UK gluten-free claim means no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold. | I need a clearly identified gluten-free biscuit, rather than assuming that any custard cream will do. The checked Crawford’s and M&S Extra Cream products list wheat ingredients. |
| Separate serving | Check whether separate portions would be useful. Use clean surfaces and utensils where wheat-containing biscuits are also served, as Coeliac UK advises. | If conventional biscuits are on the table, I want to keep the gluten-free biscuits away from their crumbs. Schär’s five two-biscuit packs offer a way to set out portions separately, but handling still matters once a pack is opened. |
| Other allergens | Check each relevant claim, the ingredient list and the allergen statement on the received pack. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda describe their checked 125 g own-label custard creams as milk-free as well as gluten-free. | A guest may need to avoid milk or another ingredient too. I need to check that requirement independently of the gluten-free claim. |
| Pack format | Compare the stated 125 g pack sizes when planning quantities. Asda describes the checked Schär pack as five portions of two biscuits; confirm Christmas stock and delivery when ordering. | For a shared biscuit plate, I may prefer a standard pack. For separate servings or carrying biscuits, the smaller packs may be more convenient. |
The checked Crawford’s and M&S Extra Cream custard creams list wheat ingredients; their product names do not establish that they are gluten-free.
Choose a pack explicitly labelled gluten-free and inspect the pack received before serving it to a guest who needs gluten-free food.
Crumbs and shared food-contact surfaces can compromise a separate gluten-free serving arrangement.
Keep the biscuits apart and use clean serving surfaces and utensils, following Coeliac UK’s cross-contact guidance.
A gluten-free claim does not tell you whether a biscuit meets a guest’s other ingredient or allergen requirements.
Check the relevant claims, ingredients and allergen statement on each pack you receive.
These are product-level label and listing references, not a comparison of taste or a promise of Christmas availability.
Tesco Free From Custard Creams are listed in a 125 g pack.
Sainsbury’s lists Free From Custard Creams in a 125 g pack.
Asda lists own-label Free From Custard Creams in a 125 g pack.
Asda lists Schär gluten-free custard creams as a 125 g product divided into five two-biscuit packs.
The checked Crawford’s custard creams are a conventional comparison, not a gluten-free option.
The checked M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams are a conventional product comparison.
McVitie’s has a biscuit range that includes gluten-free products, but a brand name is not a gluten-free claim for a particular custard cream.
This portion-packed gluten-free custard cream is an option when separate servings would suit your Christmas food shop. Check the received pack against each guest’s requirements.
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For separate servings, the checked Asda listing describes this 125 g product as five packs containing two biscuits each. Check the received pack’s ingredient and allergen information before serving; separate packs do not replace clean handling.
No. The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg, or 20 ppm, of gluten in the food as sold.
Keep them separate and use clean serving surfaces and utensils. Coeliac UK advises cleaning food-contact surfaces and equipment to avoid cross-contact with gluten-containing food.
Follow the instructions on the received pack. If gluten-containing biscuits are stored nearby, keep the gluten-free biscuits separate and avoid sharing containers or equipment that could transfer crumbs.
Use the online listing to identify a candidate, then check the label on the pack delivered. Asda advises that product and allergy information can change; confirm stock and delivery details when placing your Christmas order.