Hikers who need gluten-free food
Look for a gluten-free claim on the specific biscuit pack. If you are carrying food alongside other people’s gluten-containing snacks, keeping your biscuits wrapped and separate helps protect them from crumbs.
Who is this for?
Day walkers choosing a packable treat
Decide whether ready-wrapped portions or biscuits packed from a box fit your walk. Custard creams can be one snack alongside the other food and water you plan to carry.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the gluten-free claim on the particular pack, then consider how you will carry it and what else you will take on the walk.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the specific pack for a gluten-free claim, its ingredients and any relevant allergen information. The Food Standards Agency defines gluten-free as no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in food as sold; the claim does not settle a separate wheat or milk allergy question. | I need to know that the biscuits I am taking, rather than just the brand or range, are labelled gluten-free. |
| Pack format | Schär’s checked 125 g product has five individual 25 g packs, according to Asda. For a box, plan how to protect the biscuits you take and keep them away from gluten-containing crumbs. | Ready-wrapped portions would make packing straightforward for me; otherwise, I can pack biscuits from a box separately. |
| Food for the walk | Read the nutrition panel on the pack, including values per 100 g if comparing products. Plan other food and water for the length and circumstances of your walk; Ramblers advises tailoring supplies to the walk. | I want custard creams as a snack, without relying on biscuits alone for a longer outing. |
Common mistakes to avoid
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Choosing by a familiar brand name
The checked McVitie’s Tasties, Crawford’s and M&S Extra Cream custard creams list wheat ingredients, so those particular products are not gluten-free choices.
Choose a specific product labelled gluten-free and check the ingredients on the pack you receive.
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Assuming every gluten-free box contains separate portions
Five individual packs are specified for the checked Schär custard creams, not for the Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury’s own-brand boxes discussed here.
If separate portions matter, check the pack format before ordering. Otherwise, protect the biscuits you take from a box and take any wrappers home.
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Using a gluten-free claim as a nutrition shortcut
A gluten-free claim concerns gluten content; it does not tell you the biscuit’s sugar content or replace a plan for other food and water.
Compare nutrition panels on the packs you are considering and treat custard creams as one snack for the walk.
Brands and product lines to recognise
Check the named product rather than assuming every biscuit from a brand has the same ingredients or packaging.
Schär
Schär’s UK Custard Creams are a gluten-free, wheat-free option sold in individual portions.
- Asda specifies five 25 g packs, with two biscuits in each.
- That pack format describes this product, not every Schär biscuit.
Tesco
A checked Tesco Free From Custard Creams 125 g listing states gluten-free and milk-free.
- A box to consider if you are happy to pack the biscuits you need.
- Tesco custard-cream listings differ in their declared ingredients and nutrition; check the pack supplied.
Asda
Asda lists its own Free From Custard Creams 125 g as gluten-free and milk-free.
- An own-brand box for shoppers who plan to pack biscuits themselves.
- Do not confuse it with the separately listed Schär product’s five individual packs.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists its Free From Custard Creams 125 g as gluten-free and milk-free.
- Its listing provides nutrition per biscuit and per 100 g for checking the pack against your plans.
- Individual wrapping is not established for this box.
McVitie’s
The checked Tasties Custard Creams are a conventional biscuit, not a gluten-free option.
- That product lists wheat flour and identifies wheat as an allergen; this says nothing about every McVitie’s product.
Crawford’s
The checked Crawford’s Custard Creams 300 g are conventional biscuits.
- Their ingredient listing includes wheat flour and wheat starch, so do not use that product as the gluten-free choice.
M&S
M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams are distinct from its Made Without range.
- The checked Extra Cream product lists wheatflour. A separate Made Without range does not make this biscuit gluten-free.
Gluten-free custard creams on Joybuy
For walkers who want individually packed gluten-free custard creams, this Schär option provides five portions to carry separately.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125 g
The individually wrapped portions offer a way to take some biscuits on a walk without packing them loose. Schär describes this product as gluten- and wheat-free; Asda specifies five 25 g packs with two biscuits per pack. Check the supplied pack for any other allergens relevant to the person eating them.
Questions about packing custard creams
Does gluten-free also mean suitable for a wheat or milk allergy?
No. A gluten-free claim addresses gluten content, not every other allergen. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack for anything relevant to the person eating it; the products discussed here make different wheat and milk claims.
How should I carry custard creams on a walk?
Schär’s checked product has five individual packs that can stay wrapped until needed. If you take biscuits from a box, protect them in your bag and keep gluten-free food away from gluten-containing crumbs when sharing food.
What else should I take on a longer walk?
Treat custard creams as one snack, not your entire food plan. Ramblers advises carrying lunch, a selection of snacks and water, with supplies adjusted to the circumstances of the walk.