For a football-watching group that includes someone who needs gluten-free food, choose custard creams explicitly labelled gluten-free rather than a conventional pack: the checked Tesco, Crawford’s and M&S versions list wheat flour. Schär’s 125 g pack has five separately wrapped, two-biscuit portions for guests snacking at different times; the checked Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From 125 g packs are alternatives for sharing. Check the delivered pack for other allergens and keep its biscuits away from wheat-biscuit crumbs.
Choose a custard cream with a gluten-free claim on the exact pack, then give it a clean serving space away from wheat-biscuit crumbs. Coeliac UK advises cleaning shared surfaces and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.
The checked Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From custard creams are listed as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans. Check the delivered pack against each guest’s requirements, including any other allergens.
Schär’s 125 g pack has five individually wrapped portions of two biscuits, which lets guests open a portion when they want one. The checked own-label alternatives are single 125 g packs that can be put out for sharing on a clean surface.
Check the claim on the exact biscuit pack first, then choose a format that suits how guests will take snacks during the match.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for a gluten-free claim on the exact custard-cream pack and read its ingredients. If the Crossed Grain Trademark matters to a guest, check for it on the delivered packaging. | I want to identify the right biscuit for my guest, not rely on a familiar brand name. 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; that measures trust, not a requirement to buy a trademarked pack. |
| Pack format | Schär’s listed 125 g pack contains five wrapped portions of two biscuits. The checked Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From alternatives are each listed as 125 g packs. | Guests may take biscuits at different points in the match, so I would rather leave some portions wrapped. For a shared plate, I can choose a pack to put out together. |
| Other allergens | Read the delivered pack’s ingredient and allergen information. The checked Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From listings describe those specific custard creams as milk-free and suitable for vegans. | If someone also avoids milk or another ingredient, I need to check that requirement separately from the gluten-free claim. |
| Serving separately | Use a clean surface and utensils for gluten-free biscuits, and keep them apart from wheat-based snacks. Coeliac UK advises cleaning shared equipment to prevent cross-contamination. | When both kinds of biscuit are on the table, I want guests to be able to pick up a gluten-free portion without wheat-biscuit crumbs reaching it. |
The checked conventional Tesco, Crawford’s and M&S custard creams list wheat flour. A checked gluten-free McVitie’s Hobnob is a different type of biscuit, not a gluten-free custard cream.
For the guest who needs gluten-free food, check the claim and ingredients on the exact custard-cream pack you intend to serve.
Wheat-biscuit crumbs can reach the gluten-free biscuits through a shared surface or utensil. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.
Use clean serving equipment and keep the gluten-free biscuits separate from wheat-based snacks.
Its checked 125 g custard creams are a portion-packed gluten-free option.
Its Free From and conventional custard creams are distinct products.
Its checked 125 g Free From custard creams are an own-label alternative.
Its checked 125 g Free From custard creams are a specific own-label option.
Its checked gluten-free Hobnobs are relevant to biscuit shopping but are not custard creams.
Its checked 300 g custard creams are a conventional comparison, not a gluten-free choice.
Its checked Extra Cream Custard Creams are a conventional alternative.
This Schär pack is an option for putting out gluten-free custard creams in portions as guests snack during the match.
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For guests snacking at different times, this gluten-free custard-cream pack offers portions that can stay wrapped until needed. Schär describes the biscuits as portion-packed, and Asda lists the same 125 g product as five individual packs with two biscuits in each. Check the delivered label for any other allergen requirements, and keep the biscuits apart from wheat-based snacks.
No. The Food Standards Agency states that a gluten-free claim means no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer; it is not a claim of absolute zero.
Yes, if you prevent wheat-biscuit crumbs from reaching them. Coeliac UK advises cleaning shared surfaces and utensils to prevent cross-contamination; use separate serving equipment for the gluten-free biscuits.
Check the exact product rather than assuming so. Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s describe their checked 125 g Free From custard creams as milk-free, but the delivered pack should be checked against a guest’s requirements.
Read the delivered pack’s current ingredient and allergen information before serving. If its suitability remains unclear, contact the retailer or manufacturer rather than relying on the earlier online description.
Follow the instructions on that pack. Tesco’s checked Free From custard creams specify a cool, dry place; do not assume the same opened-pack instructions apply to every product.