Choose custard creams whose current pack says gluten free. If the child also needs to avoid milk, check the milk-allergen information separately: gluten-free and lactose-free claims do not answer that question. Schär lists five individual portions in its 125 g pack, while Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons each describe a 125 g free-from pack as both gluten and milk free; check the supplied label and the school's arrangements before packing a portion.
A clearly labelled gluten-free biscuit is the starting point. Coeliac UK also advises telling relevant school staff about the child's dietary needs and notes that young children may swap food, so an identifiable portion and a plan for food sharing matter.
Milk needs its own label check. Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons describe their specific free-from custard creams as both gluten and milk free. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust distinguishes lactose intolerance from cow's-milk-protein allergy, so a lactose-free claim alone is not enough to assess milk-allergen suitability.
Start with the claims needed for the child, then consider how the biscuit will be packed and handled at school.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free identification | Look for a gluten-free claim on the current pack, rather than judging the finished biscuit by its flour ingredients. The Food Standards Agency defines gluten-free as no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold. | For a child who needs gluten-free food, I want the claim to apply to the biscuit I am actually packing. |
| Milk information | Check the supplied pack's milk-allergen information separately. A lactose-free description does not establish suitability for someone with a milk allergy, as Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust explains. | If milk must also be avoided, I need to assess the milk information as well as the gluten-free claim. |
| School portions | Check whether portions are individually packed. Schär describes its 125 g Custard Creams pack as five 25 g portions; a serving count alone does not establish individual wrapping. | One identifiable portion would make it simpler for me to pack the child's own snack without dividing an opened pack. |
| Food sharing | Agree how the child's snack will be identified and handled at school. Coeliac UK advises informing relevant staff about a child's coeliac disease and notes that young children may swap food. | I want the packed biscuit to stay with the child it was chosen for. |
| Current label | Read the packaging supplied with each purchase, including ingredients and allergen information. Tesco and Morrisons warn against relying solely on an online listing. | Even when I buy a familiar pack, I want to check its current label before putting it in a lunchbox. |
Asda lists wheat and milk in its ordinary Custard Creams, while its separate Free From Custard Creams listing says gluten free and milk free. The name of the biscuit does not settle either label check.
Identify the exact product and read its current gluten and milk information.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust distinguishes lactose intolerance from cow's-milk-protein allergy. Schär describes its Custard Creams as lactose free, but that wording alone does not establish milk-allergen suitability.
If milk allergy is relevant, use the current pack's milk-allergen information rather than its lactose-free claim alone.
Coeliac UK notes that young children may swap food, which can undermine a plan built around packing one child's gluten-free snack.
Discuss the child's needs and the school's food-sharing arrangements with relevant staff.
Retailers including Tesco and Morrisons caution that product information can change, so a previous listing may not describe the pack supplied now.
Check the delivered packaging before packing the biscuits, particularly where an allergy is involved.
These descriptions apply to the named custard creams, not to every biscuit made or sold by each brand.
Schär describes its 125 g Custard Creams as gluten and wheat free, with five individual 25 g portions.
Tesco lists its 125 g Free From Custard Creams as gluten free and milk free.
Asda lists its 125 g Free From Custard Creams as gluten free and milk free.
Sainsbury's describes its 125 g Free From Custard Creams as milk and gluten free.
Morrisons lists its 125 g Free From Custard Creams as free from cereals containing gluten and milk.
This option is a gluten-free custard cream with individual portions for a school snack. If milk allergy is relevant, assess the supplied pack's milk-allergen information separately.
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The individually packed portions offer a way to put one gluten-free biscuit portion in a school lunchbox. Schär describes the 125 g pack as five 25 g portions. Its lactose-free description is not, by itself, confirmation of milk-allergen suitability; check the supplied pack if that matters for the child.
No. Gluten and milk need separate checks on the current pack. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust also distinguishes lactose intolerance from cow's-milk-protein allergy, so a lactose-free claim alone does not answer a milk-allergy question.
Choose a biscuit with a gluten-free claim on its current pack, keep the child's portion identifiable and discuss food-sharing arrangements with the school. Coeliac UK advises informing relevant staff about the child's need for a strict gluten-free diet and notes that young children may swap food.
No. Individual wrapping can make a portion easier to identify and pack, but the biscuit still needs the relevant gluten and milk checks. Schär lists five individual portions in its 125 g Custard Creams pack and describes the product as gluten free and lactose free; check its current milk-allergen information separately if needed.
Check the individual school's packed-lunch and allergy policy before sending them. Department for Education guidance on school food in England addresses food provided in state-funded schools; it does not establish what every school accepts in a parent-packed lunch.
Use the packaging supplied with each order for the current ingredients and allergen information. Tesco and Morrisons both caution shoppers against relying solely on online product details, particularly when those details affect an allergy decision.