Hosts serving a guest with coeliac disease
Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the biscuit pack, then plan how to keep its contents away from ordinary biscuits and shared crumbs.
Who is this for?
Hosts accommodating several dietary needs
Check gluten, milk and vegan claims separately. Asda and Sainsbury’s list their checked Free From custard creams as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans; read the pack you purchase before serving.
Hosts offering both biscuit types
Ordinary custard creams can have a place on the table for guests who eat gluten, but they need their own clearly identified serving space and utensils. The checked Tesco and Crawford’s products list wheat ingredients.
What should you check?
Start with the gluten-free claim on the exact pack, then plan separate serving and check any other requirements your guests have.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Find an explicit gluten-free claim on the pack you buy. Check its ingredients too; a custard-cream name or vegetarian statement does not establish gluten-free status. | I’m serving someone who needs gluten-free biscuits, so an ordinary wheat-containing custard cream is not an alternative. |
| Separate serving | Check the pack format and set aside a clean plate or serving area and utensils. Asda lists the Schär 125g pack as five 25g portions. Coeliac UK advises cleaning food-contact surfaces and utensils to avoid gluten cross-contact. | With both biscuit types on the table, I want guests to be able to identify the gluten-free option without sharing crumbs or utensils. |
| Other dietary requirements | Read milk and vegan statements independently of the gluten-free claim. Asda and Sainsbury’s list their checked 125g Free From packs as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans. | Another guest may also avoid milk or request vegan biscuits; I’ll check every relevant claim on the pack I serve. |
| Pack quantities | Check pack weight, stated portions and how many guests will be offered the gluten-free biscuits. The listed Schär pack has five 25g portions; the checked Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From packs are 125g each. | I’d like enough suitable biscuits for the guests who need them, without counting ordinary custard creams towards that supply. |
Party-serving pitfalls
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Assuming all custard creams are gluten free
The checked ordinary Tesco and Crawford’s custard creams list wheat ingredients, unlike the checked packs explicitly labelled gluten free.
Read the gluten-free statement and ingredients on the exact pack you buy rather than choosing by biscuit name, pack size or vegetarian status.
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Putting both biscuit types on one plate
Ordinary biscuit crumbs and shared utensils can bring gluten into contact with biscuits intended for a gluten-free guest.
Identify the gluten-free biscuits clearly and serve them separately with clean equipment. Coeliac UK advises cleaning food-contact surfaces and utensils to avoid cross-contact.
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Relying on an older product listing
Ingredients and allergy information can change, so an online description is not a substitute for the pack served at the party.
Check the current label when the biscuits arrive and confirm that the option you plan to serve meets each guest’s requirements.
Brand and range references
These references concern specific listed products or ranges, not every biscuit made by each brand.
Schär
The checked 125g gluten-free custard-cream listing describes five 25g portions.
- Asda’s listing identifies a Crossed Grain symbol for this product.
- Check the purchased pack for its current label and any other dietary requirements; the listing does not describe every Schär biscuit.
Asda Free From
Asda lists a 125g Free From custard-cream pack.
- The checked listing states gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
- Check the pack delivered or collected, as ingredients and allergy information can change.
Sainsbury’s Free From
Sainsbury’s lists a 125g Free From custard-cream pack.
- The checked listing states gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans.
- Read the purchased product’s label before serving rather than relying solely on the online description.
Tesco
Tesco’s ordinary own-label custard creams and the Schär gluten-free custard creams listed through Tesco are different products.
- The Schär listing identifies gluten-free custard creams.
- Tesco’s checked ordinary 400g custard creams list wheat flour and wheat starch; do not treat that pack as gluten free.
Crawford’s
The checked 300g ordinary custard creams are an option only for the separate, gluten-eating side of a mixed spread.
- The product listing gives wheat flour and wheat starch as ingredients. A vegetarian description does not establish gluten-free status.
M&S
The free-from biscuit range offers other biscuit types to consider if custard creams are not essential.
- The range page does not establish that a gluten-free custard cream is among them; check the claim on an individual product.
Gluten-free custard creams on Joybuy
This Schär option is relevant if you want a portioned gluten-free custard-cream pack for a party table where ordinary biscuits will also be served.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For a mixed-biscuit party, the listed five 25g portions can be presented separately from ordinary biscuits; use clean serving equipment as well. Check the purchased pack for its current ingredients and any additional dietary requirements.
Questions about buying and serving
Are ordinary custard creams suitable for a guest with coeliac disease?
Do not assume they are gluten free. The checked ordinary Tesco and Crawford’s custard creams list wheat flour and wheat starch; choose a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten free for the guest instead.
How should I serve gluten-free custard creams at a party?
Keep them in their packaging or put them on a clean, separate, clearly identified plate with their own utensils. Coeliac UK advises cleaning food-contact surfaces and utensils to avoid gluten cross-contact.
Does gluten free also mean milk free or vegan?
No; check each claim separately. Asda and Sainsbury’s list their checked Free From custard creams as gluten free, milk free and suitable for vegans, but read the current pack before serving.