Hosts serving a guest with coeliac disease
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the current packet, then use a clean plate and utensils. Coeliac UK advises keeping breadcrumbs out of shared spreads and condiments.
Who needs to check the biscuits?
Guests who also avoid milk or eat vegan
Check those requirements separately from gluten-free labelling. Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s list the free-from custard creams discussed here as milk free and suitable for vegans.
Hosts planning separate servings
Schär’s custard creams are listed in five packs of two biscuits. Separate packs may be convenient at a shared tea table, but clean handling and serving surfaces still matter.
What should you check before serving?
Check the biscuit’s dietary claims first, then plan how it will be served alongside ordinary cream-tea foods.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free identification | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the current packet. Read the ingredients and allergen information; conventional custard creams may contain wheat flour or wheat starch. | I need a biscuit clearly identified as gluten free. In Coeliac UK’s 2025 Shopping Habits survey of 3,785 responding members, 74.7% trusted its Crossed Grain Trademark more than a gluten-free statement alone; that measures trust in the mark, not custard-cream suitability. |
| Milk and vegan claims | Check milk-free and vegan wording separately. A lactose-free claim is not the same as a milk-free declaration; check the cream and other accompaniments separately too. | If a guest also avoids milk, I want a biscuit whose packet addresses that requirement, not just gluten. |
| Clean serving | Use a clean plate and utensils. Coeliac UK advises keeping breadcrumbs out of shared butter, jam and other condiments by using separate portions or clean cutlery. | I want the gluten-free biscuits served away from crumbs from ordinary scones and biscuits. |
| Suitable alternatives | Check the current packet when switching products. Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Schär each have a custard cream listed as gluten free; their other dietary claims and pack formats differ. | If my usual choice is unavailable, I still need an explicitly gluten-free alternative. In Coeliac UK’s 2025 survey of 3,785 responding members, 38.4% were happy with the supermarket range of gluten-free products; this was not a custard-cream availability measure. |
| Portion format | Decide whether a standard pack or Schär’s five two-biscuit packs work better for serving. Individual packs do not replace clean hands, surfaces and utensils. | Separate portions would make it easier for me to set aside biscuits for a guest before the shared food is served. |
Common serving and shopping mistakes
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Assuming a familiar custard cream is gluten free
The Crawford’s listing at Iceland Foods and the McVitie’s Tasties listing at Blighty’s British Store name wheat ingredients. A similar appearance does not make a standard biscuit interchangeable with a gluten-free one.
Choose a packet with an explicit gluten-free claim and read its current ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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Putting gluten-free biscuits beside ordinary scones
Crumbs can reach a biscuit through the plate, serving tools or shared condiments. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and utensils and preventing breadcrumbs from entering spreads.
Use a clean separate plate, with clean utensils or separate portions of jam and other accompaniments.
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Treating gluten free as meaning milk free
Gluten-free, milk-free, lactose-free and vegan claims address different requirements. A guest who avoids milk needs a check beyond the gluten-free claim.
Confirm each relevant claim on the current packet. The Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s free-from custard creams discussed here are listed as milk free and suitable for vegans.
Brand and product-line references
These details concern the specified custard creams, not every biscuit made by each brand.
Asda Free From
Asda lists its 125g Free From custard creams as gluten free, milk free and vegan.
- The listing also displays a Vegan Society logo.
- Check the current packet before serving, as product information can change.
Tesco Free From
Tesco lists its 125g Free From custard creams as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
- The listing states each of these dietary claims separately.
- It is a standard biscuit pack rather than a set of separate portions.
Sainsbury’s Free From
Sainsbury’s lists its 125g Free From custard creams as gluten free, milk free, suitable for vegans and suitable for coeliacs.
- The product listing states coeliac suitability explicitly.
- Check the physical packet for the current ingredients and allergen information.
Schär
Schär’s custard creams are listed as gluten free, wheat free, lactose free and suitable for vegans.
- The 125g product is listed as five packs containing two biscuits each.
- Lactose free is not a substitute for checking a milk-free declaration if a guest needs one.
Crawford’s
The Crawford’s custard creams listed by Iceland Foods are conventional biscuits, not a gluten-free option for this cream tea.
- Iceland Foods lists wheat flour and wheat starch and declares wheat and milk.
McVitie’s Tasties
The consulted McVitie’s Tasties custard cream listing describes a conventional wheat-containing biscuit.
- The listing names wheat flour and wheat starch, so do not substitute this version for a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten free.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This Schär option is relevant if you want gluten-free custard creams in separate two-biscuit portions for a cream tea.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
A gluten-free custard cream option for setting aside separate servings at a cream tea. Retailer listings describe this 125g product as five packs of two biscuits, lactose free and suitable for vegans. If a guest needs a milk-free declaration, check the physical packet rather than treating lactose free as equivalent.
Frequently asked questions
Does “gluten free” mean a custard cream contains no gluten at all?
No. The Food Standards Agency defines a “gluten-free” claim as no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold. Choose a packet with an explicit claim rather than assuming an ordinary custard cream qualifies.
Can I serve ordinary custard creams to a gluten-free guest?
Do not substitute the conventional Crawford’s or McVitie’s Tasties versions described here: their consulted product listings name wheat flour and wheat starch. Check the current packet and choose a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten free.
Can gluten-free biscuits share a cake stand with regular scones?
Use a clean separate plate to avoid crumbs from the scones reaching the biscuits. Coeliac UK also advises clean utensils and separate condiments or clean cutlery to keep breadcrumbs out of shared spreads.
Which of these custard creams are also listed as milk free?
Asda Free From, Tesco Free From and Sainsbury’s Free From are listed as milk free and suitable for vegans. Schär’s custard creams are listed as lactose free and suitable for vegans; check the current packet if a guest needs a specific milk-free declaration.
Should I check the packet if I have bought the biscuits before?
Yes. Check the current ingredients, allergen information and dietary claims on the physical packet before serving someone with a dietary requirement, even if the product name is familiar.