Hosts serving someone who needs gluten-free food
Choose a clearly labelled pack and plan how to keep its biscuits apart from ordinary ones on the picnic table. Coeliac UK advises against contact between gluten-free food and food containing gluten.
Who is choosing the biscuits?
People packing individual snacks
Small packs can stay identifiable until they are handed out. Asda lists Schär’s 125 g custard creams as five individual packs of two biscuits.
Shoppers checking more than one dietary requirement
Gluten-free does not tell you whether a biscuit is also milk-free or vegan. The specific Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From custard creams listed carry those additional claims; check the pack you buy.
What matters when choosing a pack?
Start with the gluten-free claim on the exact product, then consider how you will transport and serve it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for a gluten-free claim on the specific pack; do not rely on its name or appearance. The conventional Tesco and Asda custard creams checked contain wheat, as do M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams. | I’m serving someone who needs gluten-free biscuits, so I need to distinguish the Free From product from an ordinary custard cream. |
| Picnic portions | Check whether the biscuits are individually packed or in one sharing pack. Asda lists Schär’s 125 g pack as five two-biscuit packs; keep opened gluten-free food away from gluten-containing food, as Coeliac UK advises. | Small, identifiable portions would make it easier for me to hand out biscuits without putting them into a shared container. |
| Other dietary claims | Check milk-free and vegan claims separately from gluten-free labelling. Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s list both claims for their specific 125 g Free From custard creams. | If guests have other dietary requirements, I want to check each claim on the pack I’m serving. |
| Storage and the actual pack | Follow the purchased pack’s storage instructions and read its current ingredients and allergen statement. The Tesco Free From, Asda Free From and Schär listings specify cool, dry storage. | I need to pack the biscuits as instructed and check the label before they go onto the picnic table. |
What could go wrong at a picnic?
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Assuming every custard cream is gluten-free
The conventional Tesco and Asda products checked list wheat, and M&S Extra Cream Custard Creams list wheatflour.
Choose by the gluten-free claim on the exact pack, not by the biscuit name or retailer.
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Putting gluten-free biscuits in a shared container
Gluten-containing food can come into contact with biscuits after their gluten-free pack is opened. Coeliac UK advises keeping gluten-free food from being contaminated during preparation and serving.
Keep portions identifiable and use clean serving equipment; individual packs can remain closed until needed.
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Relying on an old online ingredient list
Retailer listings may not reflect a later change to ingredients or allergen information.
Read the purchased pack’s allergen and storage wording before taking it to the picnic.
Which brand ranges are relevant?
These examples concern specific products, not every custard cream or biscuit made by each brand.
Schär
An individually portioned gluten-free custard cream option.
- Asda lists the 125 g product as five two-biscuit packs and shows a Crossed Grain symbol.
- Check the retailer and the pack you receive for the product you intend to serve.
Tesco
Its Free From and conventional custard creams are different products.
- Tesco lists its 125 g Free From custard creams as gluten-free, milk-free and vegan.
- Its conventional 400 g custard creams list wheat flour and wheat starch.
Asda
Check the Free From range rather than assuming its conventional custard creams have the same dietary claims.
- The listed 125 g Free From custard creams carry gluten-free, milk-free and vegan claims.
- Asda’s conventional 400 g custard creams contain wheat.
Sainsbury’s
Its listed 125 g Free From custard creams are a gluten-free own-brand option.
- The listing also describes this product as milk-free and vegan.
- Check the purchased pack for current ingredients and allergen details.
M&S
Its Extra Cream Custard Creams illustrate why the exact product matters.
- That product lists wheatflour, so it does not meet this gluten-free custard cream need.
McVitie’s
Check the individual product rather than the familiar brand name.
- Pioneer Foodservice’s specification for McVitie’s Tasties Custard Cream Biscuits declares wheat flour, wheat starch and gluten.
Joybuy picnic option
This Joybuy option is an individually portioned gluten-free custard cream pack for taking to a picnic.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
For handing out picnic snacks, the listed 125 g format contains five individual two-biscuit packs. Keep portions separate from ordinary biscuits when serving, and check the received pack’s current allergen and storage information.
Common questions
Do gluten-free custard creams need chilling for a picnic?
The Tesco Free From, Asda Free From and Schär products listed specify storage in a cool, dry place. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy rather than inferring a chilling requirement from the word “custard”.
How can I serve them beside ordinary biscuits?
Keep gluten-free biscuits identifiable and use clean hands, surfaces and serving utensils. Coeliac UK advises preventing gluten-containing food from contaminating gluten-free food during preparation and serving.
Are gluten-free custard creams also milk-free or vegan?
Not necessarily: check those claims separately. The specific Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s Free From custard creams listed carry milk-free and vegan claims, but read the pack you purchase.
What if the online ingredients differ from the delivered pack?
Read the delivered pack’s current ingredients and allergen information before serving it. If its wording leaves a dietary question unresolved, ask the retailer or manufacturer for clarification.
What does the Crossed Grain symbol tell me?
It identifies a separate certification scheme. Coeliac UK says products certified under its scheme undergo additional checks, including review of gluten analysis certificates and independent manufacturing audits; still check the exact pack for your guests’ requirements.