Who is shopping for these biscuits?

Large households needing gluten-free biscuits

When several people will share the biscuits, work out how many 125g packs you need. A larger conventional custard-cream pack is not a substitute if someone eating it requires a gluten-free product.

Households with additional dietary requirements

Tesco Free From and Sainsbury's Free From custard creams are listed as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans. Schär is listed as gluten-free, lactose-free and suitable for vegans; check its current pack if milk-free labelling is required.

Families packing individual portions

Schär's 125g pack contains five 25g portion packs, each with two biscuits. That format may be useful for lunchboxes, but it does not increase the total amount in the pack.

What should you check before choosing?

Start with the dietary requirements of everyone who will eat the biscuits. Then compare the quantity, pack format and current stock of products that meet those requirements.

Priority What to check Your needs
Gluten-free labelling Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the current pack. Read the ingredients and allergen information rather than relying on the biscuit's name or a front-of-pack impression. I need biscuits suitable for someone who requires gluten-free food, so a conventional custard cream containing wheat will not do.
Pack quantity Tesco Free From, Sainsbury's Free From and Schär options described here are each 125g. Sainsbury's lists nine servings per pack; Schär contains five 25g portion packs. For a large household, I'll plan the number of packs around the servings we expect to use, rather than assuming one pack will be enough.
Other dietary labels Tesco and Sainsbury's list their Free From packs as milk-free and vegan. Schär is listed as lactose-free and vegan; check the current allergen statement if milk must be avoided. One biscuit may need to meet more than one person's dietary requirements, and lactose-free wording is not the same declaration as milk-free.
Portion format Schär's 125g pack has five separate 25g portions, with two biscuits in each. Consider whether separate portions or an ordinary packet better fits how the biscuits will be used. Individual portions would help me pack lunchboxes; otherwise, the total pack quantity matters more.
Current stock Confirm availability before relying on a particular pack for collection or delivery. Tesco and Sainsbury's product pages showed Schär as out of stock when checked. If the whole shop depends on one product, I'll keep another biscuit that meets our dietary requirements in mind.

Common shopping mistakes

  • Choosing the biggest pack without reading the ingredients

    The conventional McVitie's and Crawford's 300g custard creams listed by Morrisons and Iceland Foods contain wheat. The standard Sainsbury's and M&S examples also list wheat ingredients.

    If gluten-free suitability is required, compare quantities only after identifying products with an explicit gluten-free claim.

  • Assuming a portioned pack contains more biscuits overall

    Schär's five individual portions still add up to 125g, the same total pack weight as the Tesco and Sainsbury's Free From options described here.

    Count the portions or servings your household plans to use, then choose how many eligible packs to buy.

  • Using a product webpage in place of the pack label

    Ingredients and allergen information can change. Coeliac UK advises checking prepacked-food labels and explains that a 'may contain' statement can indicate a cross-contact risk.

    Read the current physical pack, including its ingredients, allergen information and any precautionary statement, before serving it to someone with a relevant dietary requirement.

  • Depending on a pack without checking stock

    Tesco and Sainsbury's product pages showed Schär Custard Creams as out of stock when checked, so a planned shop could be disrupted if that is the only eligible option on the list.

    Confirm live availability and identify another product that meets the household's requirements.

Brand and product-line references

These references concern the specific custard-cream products described, not every biscuit made by each brand.

Tesco Free From

Tesco lists its 125g Free From Custard Creams as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.

  • The listed dietary declarations may allow one pack to meet several household requirements.
  • A large household may need more than one 125g pack; check the current label before buying.

Sainsbury's Free From

Sainsbury's lists its 125g Free From Custard Creams as gluten-free, milk-free, vegan and suitable for coeliacs.

  • The listing states nine servings per pack, which can help with quantity planning.
  • Check how many small packs the household needs and read the current packaging.

Schär

Schär's gluten-free 125g custard creams come in five portion packs and display the Crossed Grain Symbol on the retailer listings.

  • Separate portions may be useful for lunchboxes; the listings also describe the biscuits as lactose-free and suitable for vegans.
  • The total remains 125g. Tesco and Sainsbury's showed the product as out of stock when checked, so confirm current availability.

McVitie's

The McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams listing at Morrisons describes a conventional 300g pack.

  • Its pack weight is 300g.
  • Morrisons lists wheat ingredients and identifies wheat as an allergen, so this product is not a gluten-free substitute.

Crawford's

The Crawford's Custard Creams listing at Iceland Foods describes a conventional 300g pack.

  • Its pack weight is 300g.
  • Iceland Foods lists wheat flour and wheat starch, so this product does not meet a gluten-free requirement.

Joybuy product options

This Schär option is a gluten-free custard cream in separate portions. Check whether its 125g total pack weight and current dietary information suit your household's shop.

Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g pack

Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g

The five separate 25g portions may suit lunchboxes or planned servings. Retailer listings describe the biscuits as gluten-free, lactose-free and suitable for vegans. The whole pack is 125g, so plan the quantity needed for a large household and check the current packaging.

View on Joybuy

Questions about gluten-free custard creams

Is a standard custard cream gluten-free if the front of the pack has no allergy warning?

Do not assume it is. Check for an explicit gluten-free claim and read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. The standard Sainsbury's, M&S, McVitie's and Crawford's products described here list wheat ingredients.

What does 'gluten-free' mean on a UK biscuit label?

The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled 'gluten-free' must contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten as sold to the final consumer. Check the current pack separately for any other allergens or dietary requirements.

Which of these custard creams are also labelled milk-free or vegan?

Tesco Free From and Sainsbury's Free From are listed as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans. Schär is listed as gluten-free, lactose-free and suitable for vegans; if milk-free labelling matters, check its current allergen statement rather than treating 'lactose-free' as the same claim.

How many packs should a large family buy?

Base the number on the servings your household plans to use. The Tesco and Sainsbury's Free From options described here are each 125g, with Sainsbury's listing nine servings; Schär's 125g pack contains five portions of two biscuits each.