Who is this choice for?

The pack you choose and the way you serve it both matter when gluten-free and ordinary snacks will share a table.

Hosts with a gluten-free guest

Look for a gluten-free declaration on the exact custard-cream pack. Coeliac UK also advises keeping gluten-containing crumbs off food and serving equipment.

Hosts serving mixed-diet groups

You can offer ordinary biscuits as well, but keep them apart from the gluten-free option. Individually packed portions give you another way to reserve biscuits before the snacks reach the table.

Guests avoiding milk as well as gluten

Check both requirements on the supplied pack. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda each describe their listed 125g free-from custard creams as gluten-free and milk-free; those claims apply to the specific products.

What should you check?

Identify the right biscuit first, then choose a serving format that lets you keep it separate during the game.

Priority What to check Your needs
Gluten-free identification Read the declaration on the exact pack and check its ingredients and allergen information. The Food Standards Agency defines a gluten-free claim as no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold. I need to recognise the suitable custard creams without assuming that every biscuit from the same brand is gluten-free.
Separate serving For an opened pack, use a clean, separate plate and serving equipment. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and utensils to avoid cross-contamination; individually packed portions can be set aside before serving. If ordinary biscuits are on the table, I want the gluten-free serving kept clear of their crumbs.
Other allergens Check the supplied pack for the guest’s specific allergens. The listed Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda free-from custard creams are described as milk-free, but gluten-free does not mean free from every allergen. Someone also avoids milk, so I need to check both claims on the biscuits I serve.
Pack format Compare the number of servings as well as total weight. The checked Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda free-from packs are 125g; Asda lists the 125g Schär pack as five individual 25g packs. Would a clean shared plate work for our group, or would reserving wrapped portions be simpler?

Serving and shopping pitfalls

  • Assuming a familiar brand makes every biscuit gluten-free

    McVitie’s identifies a gluten-free Hobnobs product, but the Family Circle assortment listed by Tesco contains custard creams and names wheat and barley among its allergens. Tesco’s listed Crawford’s custard creams also contain wheat.

    Check the declaration on the exact custard-cream pack, not another biscuit made by the brand.

  • Putting gluten-free biscuits among ordinary snacks

    Once the pack is open, crumbs and shared equipment can contaminate the biscuits. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.

    Use a clean, separate plate and serving utensil, or keep a wrapped portion aside for the guest.

  • Looking at pack weight without considering how you will serve it

    The listed Tesco Free From and Schär packs are both 125g, but Schär’s is divided into five individual packs. The same total weight does not mean the same serving arrangement.

    Decide whether guests will use a separate shared plate or whether you want to reserve individual portions.

Relevant brand references

Brand names help locate the options, but gluten-free and allergen claims belong to particular products.

Schär

Asda lists Schär gluten-free custard creams in a 125g pack containing five individual portions.

  • The listed pack displays a Crossed Grain symbol and contains two biscuits per individual pack.
  • Check the supplied pack for any other allergens the guest needs to avoid.

Tesco

Tesco lists both Free From and conventional custard creams.

  • Its listed 125g Free From custard creams are described as gluten-free and milk-free.
  • Its listed conventional 400g custard creams contain wheat flour; check which pack you have.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s lists a 125g Free From custard-cream pack.

  • The listing describes this product as gluten-free and milk-free.
  • Those claims do not apply automatically to other Sainsbury’s custard creams.

Asda

Asda lists its own 125g Free From custard creams as well as the individually packed Schär product.

  • The listed Asda own-label product is described as gluten-free and milk-free.
  • Check the supplied pack’s ingredients and allergy information, which can change.

Crawford’s

Tesco’s listed 300g Crawford’s custard creams are a conventional biscuit option.

  • That listed product contains wheat flour and wheat starch; do not use it as the gluten-free serving.

McVitie’s

McVitie’s identifies a gluten-free Hobnobs product, while Tesco lists custard creams within McVitie’s Family Circle.

  • The listed Family Circle assortment names wheat and barley among its allergens. A claim on Hobnobs does not apply to that assortment.

A Joybuy product option

For hosts who want to set aside individual gluten-free custard-cream portions, this Joybuy option is a 125g Schär pack.

Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schär Gluten-Free Custard Creams 125g

Individual portions can be reserved for a guest before ordinary biscuits reach the table. This 125g gluten-free pack contains five portions; check the supplied packaging for its current ingredients, allergen information and any symbol you want to rely on.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does gluten-free mean there is absolutely no gluten?

No. The Food Standards Agency defines the UK gluten-free labelling threshold as no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer. Check that the pack says gluten-free if that is the claim your guest needs.

Can gluten-free and ordinary custard creams go on the same snack plate?

Keep them apart when serving a guest who needs to avoid gluten. Coeliac UK advises cleaning surfaces and equipment to prevent cross-contamination, so use a clean, separate plate and serving utensil or reserve a wrapped portion.

Are gluten-free custard creams suitable for someone with a wheat allergy?

Do not assume so from a gluten-free claim alone. Coeliac UK notes that gluten-free products can contain specially processed wheat starch; check the supplied pack for the guest’s specific allergens.

What if the supplied pack differs from its online description?

Read the supplied pack’s ingredients and allergy information before serving it. Tesco and Asda warn that product information can change; ask the retailer or manufacturer about a pack that does not meet the guest’s requirements.