Caterers serving coeliac guests
Check the gluten-free claim on the exact biscuit and keep it separate from gluten-containing food during storage and service. Coeliac UK advises caterers to keep gluten-free and gluten-containing foods separate.
Who needs to plan for gluten-free service?
Organisers handing out separate portions
Count the portions required and plan how guests will identify them. Asda lists the Schar 125g pack as five individual packs with two biscuits in each.
Buyers covering several dietary requirements
Check each requirement against the chosen pack. Tesco and Asda describe their specified Free From custard creams as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans; those descriptions do not apply to every custard cream they sell.
What should you check before ordering?
Start with the exact product claim, then choose a portion format that your catering team can store and serve separately.
Separate portions
Consider when: biscuits will be handed directly to attendees; Asda lists five individual two-biscuit packs in Schar’s 125g format.
Plan for: counting five portions per pack and keeping those portions separate from conventional biscuits throughout service.
Shared retail pack
Consider when: staff can serve the specified gluten-free Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury’s custard creams separately.
Plan for: controlled handling of loose biscuits, with the pack label available to check ingredients and allergens.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Check the exact product name and gluten-free claim on the delivered pack. Do not use a conventional product because the same brand sells a Free From version. | I need to identify which biscuits can be offered to guests requesting gluten-free food. |
| Separate service | Plan separate storage and serving, using clean hands and utensils. Coeliac UK advises keeping gluten-free and gluten-containing foods separate. | The biscuits must remain identifiable when conventional custard creams are served nearby. |
| Portions and quantity | Use the chosen pack’s portion count or serving information to calculate the order. Asda lists five individual two-biscuit packs for Schar’s 125g format; confirm quantities for the event. | I need enough portions for the planned hand-outs, not just a count of retail packs. |
| Other requirements | Check the delivered ingredients and allergen label for each requested requirement. Tesco and Asda make milk-free and vegan claims for their specified Free From custard creams. | Guests may have requirements beyond gluten-free, so one claim cannot answer every dietary question. |
Which catering mistakes should you avoid?
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Confusing conventional and Free From packs
Tesco’s listed Crawford’s custard creams contain wheat flour and wheat starch; Asda’s conventional custard creams declare wheat. Neither is a substitute for the specified gluten-free product.
Order by the full product name and keep conventional biscuits clearly identified and separate.
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Putting gluten-free biscuits on a shared tray
A gluten-free claim on the packet does not cover what happens after the biscuits are handled or placed beside gluten-containing food.
Keep storage and service separate, use clean hands and utensils, and retain the pack information for staff and guests.
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Counting packs instead of portions
Asda lists five individual portions in the Schar 125g pack. Other retail packs should not be assumed to contain five separately wrapped hand-outs.
Calculate the number of portions needed from the format selected, then confirm the order quantity and check the delivered packs.
Which product lines are relevant?
These references concern the named products, not every biscuit made by each brand.
Schär
A gluten-free custard-cream line with a portioned 125g format.
- Asda lists five individual packs with two biscuits each.
- Plan quantities by portion and check the delivered pack before service.
Tesco
Its specified 125g Free From custard creams are an option for separately managed service.
- Tesco describes this product as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.
- Check the current pack; these claims do not apply to Tesco’s conventional custard creams.
Asda
Its specified 125g Free From custard creams are distinct from its conventional range.
- Asda lists the Free From product as free from cereals containing gluten and milk, and suitable for vegans.
- Asda’s separate conventional 400g custard creams declare wheat.
Sainsbury’s
Its specified 125g Free From custard creams are another retail-pack option.
- Sainsbury’s describes this product as milk- and gluten-free.
- Do not assume the biscuits are individually wrapped; plan how they will be served separately.
Crawford’s
The specified conventional custard creams are not a gluten-free option.
- Tesco’s ingredient listing for the 300g product includes wheat flour and wheat starch.
McVitie’s
Its Gluten Free Original Hobnobs are a different biscuit to consider if custard creams are not essential.
- McVitie’s describes this named product as gluten-free oat biscuits.
- They are not custard creams; check the exact product rather than extending its claim to other McVitie’s biscuits.
A portioned option on Joybuy
This custard-cream option is relevant when separate portions would help staff hand biscuits to conference guests.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The five-portion format helps with counting conference hand-outs. Joybuy describes five portions in this 125g pack, while Asda lists the corresponding format as five individual packs of two biscuits. Check the delivered label and keep the portions separate from gluten-containing food during service.
Questions about serving custard creams
Can gluten-free biscuits go on the same tray as ordinary custard creams?
Keep them separate. A gluten-free claim describes the product, not how it is handled at the event; Coeliac UK advises caterers to keep gluten-free and gluten-containing foods separate. Use clean hands and utensils when serving.
Do individual portions settle questions about other allergens?
No. Separate portions can help with distribution, but check the delivered product label against each guest’s stated requirements, including any requirement beyond gluten-free.
What should organisers confirm before ordering?
Calculate the required portions from the selected pack format, then confirm the quantity and delivery arrangements for the event. When the packs arrive, check their labels, dates and storage instructions before service.