Shoppers prioritising lower fat
You want ready-to-serve custard explicitly labelled low fat, while still checking its nutrition panel before choosing a tin.
Who this choice matters to
One- or two-person households
You need a serving plan for an opened tin. Tesco Groceries lists three portions for the 400g Ambrosia Low Fat Custard can and instructs shoppers to refrigerate the remainder and use it within three days.
Shoppers comparing nutrition labels
You want to compare fat and sugars per 100g, rather than assume that a reduced-fat name also describes the product’s sugar content.
What to check when buying
For one or two people, compare ready-to-serve custards as sold, then consider how much of an opened tin you will use.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Compare fat per 100g. Tesco Groceries lists 1.7g for Tesco Reduced Fat Custard, 2.0g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard and 3.8g for Tesco Ready To Serve Custard, all in 400g tins. | If I am choosing custard chiefly to reduce fat, the per-100g figure matters more to me than the wording on the front. About 40% of consumers put lower fat first. |
| Sugars and servings | Read sugars per 100g alongside the amount you intend to serve. Tesco Groceries lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for both Ambrosia Low Fat Custard and Tesco Reduced Fat Custard. | I may want a lower-fat tin without assuming its sugar figure is lower too. For about 30% of consumers, comparing the wider nutrition label is the primary need. |
| Leftovers | Check the stated portions and the pack’s instructions after opening; the Ambrosia and Tesco tins call for refrigeration and use within three days. | When serving one or two people, I need to know whether the remaining custard fits my plans. Managing portions and leftovers comes first for about 30% of consumers. |
Buying mistakes to avoid
-
Reading “reduced fat” as a judgement on the whole nutrition label
The lower-fat Ambrosia and Tesco products each list 7.4g sugars per 100g on Tesco Groceries. A fat comparison does not answer a separate question about sugars.
Compare fat and sugars per 100g, then look at the portion you expect to serve.
-
Opening a tin without a plan for the remainder
An opened tin may leave custard to use on another day. Tesco Groceries gives a three-day refrigerated period after opening for the Ambrosia and Tesco tins; Marks & Spencer gives two days for M&S Silky Smooth Custard.
Check the instructions on your pack and choose a size you can use within its stated period.
-
Confusing vegetarian suitability with allergen suitability
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard is described as suitable for vegetarians, but its ingredients include skimmed milk, buttermilk and whey.
If you need to avoid milk, check the current ingredients and allergen statement separately from dietary suitability wording.
Brands and product lines to compare
Ambrosia
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard is a 400g ready-to-serve tin explicitly labelled low fat.
- Tesco Groceries lists 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g, with three portions per tin.
- It contains milk ingredients. Refrigerate the remainder after opening and use it within three days, following the pack instructions.
Tesco
Tesco lists reduced-fat and regular 400g ready-to-serve custard tins, allowing a comparison within its range.
- Tesco Groceries lists 1.7g fat per 100g for its Reduced Fat Custard and 3.8g per 100g for its regular Ready To Serve Custard.
- The reduced-fat product also lists 7.4g sugars per 100g and contains milk. Check its current label and availability before shopping.
M&S
M&S Silky Smooth Custard is a regular 400g custard to compare if a low-fat label is not essential.
- Marks & Spencer lists 3.7g fat per 100g for this whole-milk product.
- Marks & Spencer instructs shoppers to refrigerate it after opening and eat it within two days.
Bird's
Bird's Original Custard Powder, listed by Tesco Groceries, is a make-at-home alternative rather than a ready-to-serve tin.
- It lets shoppers prepare custard using their chosen recipe.
- The prepared custard’s nutrition depends on the ingredients and amounts used, so its powder label cannot be compared directly with a ready-to-serve tin.
Low-fat tinned custard on Joybuy
This ready-to-serve 400g tin fits shoppers considering an explicitly low-fat custard for one or two people.
Image unavailable
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g
Consider this ready-to-serve tin if you want custard explicitly labelled low fat and can plan for any remainder after serving one or two people.
Tesco Groceries lists three portions per tin, 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g. It contains milk; after opening, refrigerate the remainder and use it within three days, following the pack instructions.
Common questions
Does low fat mean the custard is also low in sugar?
No: check the two figures separately. Tesco Groceries lists 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard, and 1.7g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g for Tesco Reduced Fat Custard.
How should I keep custard left in an opened tin?
Follow the instructions on the individual pack. The Tesco Groceries pages for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard and Tesco’s 400g custards say to transfer the remainder from the can, refrigerate it and use it within three days; Marks & Spencer states two days after opening for M&S Silky Smooth Custard.
Can Ambrosia Low Fat Custard be served hot?
Yes. Its product instructions allow it to be served hot or cold; for heating, follow the pack directions, including the instruction to heat gently while stirring and not boil it on the hob.
Is Ambrosia Low Fat Custard suitable if I need to avoid milk?
No. Its listed ingredients include skimmed milk, buttermilk and whey, and the Joybuy product page identifies milk as an allergen. Check the current pack before buying any alternative.
Should I rely on a “low fat” claim instead of the nutrition table?
No. GOV.UK states that nutrition claims such as “low fat” are subject to specific rules, while nutrition information is required on prepacked foods subject to exemptions. Read the current per-100g figures when comparing tins.