Fat-first label comparers
If keeping fat low is your main shopping concern, compare total fat and saturates per 100g rather than relying on words such as “light” or “reduced fat”.
Who these options suit
Ready-to-serve cupboard dessert buyers
If you want to pour custard straight from a pack and serve it hot or cold, a ready-to-serve tin or UHT pack avoids making custard from powder.
Portion and preparation planners
If preparation fits your routine, custard powder lets you make the amount you intend to serve. Compare prepared nutrition only for the method stated on the label.
What to check before choosing
For cupboard custard when keeping fat low matters, start with the nutrition panel per 100g, then consider your serving and whether you want to prepare it.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat | Compare total fat per 100g, then work out the fat in the portion you intend to serve. The NHS general low-fat threshold for foods is 3g or less per 100g. | If I am working to a fat limit, I need to know what my actual serving contributes, not just what the front of the pack says. About 42% of consumers put total fat first. |
| Sugars and portions | Compare sugars per 100g on the same basis and check the stated serving size. Tesco Groceries lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard and 11.3g for Tesco Reduced Fat Custard. | If I am also comparing sugars, a low-fat description does not answer my question about the dessert I will pour. For about 33% of consumers, sugars and serving size are the primary concern. |
| Format and leftovers | Check whether the product is ready to serve or needs preparation, and follow its instructions after opening or making it up. | When I need dessert without preparation, I want a pack size I can use within its opened-pack storage period; if I have time to make custard, powder may suit my routine. Format and potential waste come first for about 25% of consumers. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating “reduced fat” as the same claim as “low fat”
“Reduced fat” compares a product with a reference product: Tesco says its Reduced Fat Custard contains 40% less fat than Tesco Ready To Serve Custard. The NHS low-fat threshold instead uses grams of total fat per 100g.
Read the per-100g figure before deciding whether the product fits your shopping criteria.
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Comparing different stated portions directly
Ambrosia's stated portion is 130g and Tesco Reduced Fat Custard's is 125g. Their portion figures therefore represent different amounts of food.
Compare nutrition per 100g first, then calculate it for the amount you expect to serve.
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Choosing a format that does not fit your routine
Bird's custard powder needs preparation. Ready-to-serve custard avoids that step, but the Ambrosia and Tesco products advise refrigeration and use within 3 days of opening.
Choose a pack and preparation method that suit when and how much custard you plan to use.
An opened pack you cannot finish within its stated storage period may lead to food waste.
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Overlooking the milk declaration
The Ambrosia and Tesco ready-to-serve products contain milk, while Bird's Original Custard Powder is labelled as possibly containing milk. A vegetarian description does not establish that a product is dairy-free.
Check the allergen declaration on the exact pack if milk is relevant to your purchase.
Brands and formats to consider
Ambrosia
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g is a ready-to-serve tin for shoppers who specifically want canned custard.
- Tesco Groceries lists 2.0g fat, 1.0g saturates and 7.4g sugars per 100g for this product.
- It contains milk; refrigerate leftovers and use them within 3 days of opening.
Tesco
Tesco Reduced Fat Custard 500g is a ready-to-serve UHT alternative, rather than a tin.
- Tesco Groceries lists 1.5g fat per 100g for this product.
- It lists 11.3g sugars per 100g and contains milk; refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days.
Bird's
Bird's Original Custard Powder is a dry cupboard option for shoppers willing to make custard.
- Tesco Groceries lists 1.5g fat per 100g when the custard is prepared with semi-skimmed milk.
- It is neither tinned nor ready to serve, and the prepared nutrition depends on the stated method. The powder may contain milk.
Joybuy custard selections
These selections include a ready-to-serve tin, other cupboard custards and mixes that need preparation. Check the format and nutrition of each product rather than treating them as interchangeable low-fat tins.
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Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g
Choose this if a ready-to-serve tin is important to you. Tesco Groceries lists 2.0g fat, 1.0g saturates and 7.4g sugars per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard. It contains milk; refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days.
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Ambrosia Light Devon Custard 1kg
Consider this ready-to-serve carton if you do not specifically need a tin. The 1kg pack makes the amount you expect to use worth considering; check its nutrition panel and milk declaration. Refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days.
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Morrisons Ready To Serve Custard 500g
This is a ready-to-serve option if avoiding preparation matters more than buying a tin. Check the pack's format, per-100g nutrition and milk declaration against your needs. Refrigerate after opening and use within 3 days.
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Bird's Custard Powder 350g
Choose powder if you are willing to make custard rather than pour it from a ready-to-serve pack. Tesco Groceries lists 1.5g fat per 100g for Bird's Original Custard Powder when prepared with semi-skimmed milk; use that figure only for the stated preparation method. Check the pack's milk warning, and refrigerate custard once made.
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CHECKERS CUSTARD BANANA 400g
This banana custard mix is for shoppers prepared to make custard rather than serve it straight from a pack. Check the preparation instructions alongside any nutrition stated for the made-up custard, and check the milk declaration. Refrigerate once prepared and use within 24 hours.
Questions about custard labels and storage
What does “low fat” mean when comparing custard labels?
The NHS food-label guide describes foods with 3g total fat or less per 100g as low fat. Compare custards per 100g before looking at stated servings, which can differ in size.
Does a low-fat tin fit a prescribed very-low-fat diet?
A low-fat label alone cannot establish whether a serving fits an individual prescribed allowance. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's guidance for people specifically advised to have no more than 20g of fat a day addresses daily intake, so check the fat in your intended portion against the instructions you have been given.
Is low-fat custard also low in sugar?
A low-fat description does not establish a low sugar content. Tesco Groceries lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard and 11.3g for Tesco Reduced Fat Custard; it lists 9.5g for Bird's Original Custard Powder when prepared with semi-skimmed milk.
What should I do with custard after opening or making it?
The Ambrosia Low Fat and Tesco Reduced Fat ready-to-serve products advise refrigeration and use within 3 days of opening. Bird's custard powder can be stored dry before preparation; refrigerate the custard once made and treat it as fresh food.
Which milk allergen information matters for these options?
Check the declaration on the exact pack. Ambrosia Low Fat Custard and Tesco Reduced Fat Custard contain milk, while Bird's Original Custard Powder is labelled as possibly containing milk.