Who is each format for?

Nutrition-panel comparers

If lower fat is your starting point, compare the fat and sugars figures per 100g as well as the portion you intend to serve. A lower-fat description does not tell you the sugar content.

Large-household portion planners

If you are serving several people, check whether one pack covers the dessert. Ambrosia's 400g Low Fat can contains three portions, while Sainsbury's 500g Lighter Custard states four servings.

Flexible-portion cooks

If you would rather prepare custard than open a ready-to-serve pack, an instant mix offers a different routine. Bird's Low Fat Instant Custard needs boiling water and whisking; one sachet makes three servings.

What matters when choosing?

For a large family dessert, decide how many portions you need, then compare nutrition on the same per-100g basis and consider whether you want to prepare the custard.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Fat and sugars Compare fat and sugars per 100g, then check the planned serving size. If lower fat is the priority, I still want to know how much sugar is in the custard I serve. About 42% of consumers put this nutrition comparison first.
Serving quantity Check pack weight and stated portions against the number of people eating dessert. When I am serving a larger family, I need to know whether one pack will go round. Enough custard for the meal is the main concern for about 33% of consumers.
Preparation and leftovers Check whether the custard is ready to serve or needs preparing, and read the storage instructions. I may prefer to pour custard straight from a pack, or make it when needed rather than leave an opened pack. Around 25% of consumers place that preparation and leftover decision first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming lower fat means lower sugar

    The product listings give different figures: Tesco lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard, Sainsbury's lists 11.8g for its Lighter Custard, and ASDA lists 12g for its 30% Less Fat Custard.

    Read the per-100g figures for fat, saturated fat and sugars, then consider the portion you plan to serve.

  • Choosing a tin without counting portions

    Tesco lists three portions for the 400g Ambrosia Low Fat can. Sainsbury's 500g Lighter Custard states four servings, and Tesco lists reduced-fat custard cartons in larger sizes.

    Count the people eating dessert before choosing a pack size; a larger gathering may need more than one tin.

    Opening more custard than you will use also means planning how to store the remainder.

  • Assuming lower-fat custard is suitable for a milk allergy

    The Ambrosia, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Bird's lower-fat products described here contain milk or milk-derived ingredients.

    For an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen statement on the particular pack before serving it.

  • Overlooking preparation and storage

    Bird's instant custard requires preparation with boiling water. The Sainsbury's and ASDA ready-to-serve cartons instruct shoppers to refrigerate them after opening and use them within three days.

    Choose the preparation method that suits the meal, and follow the storage and heating directions on the pack you buy.

Brands to consider for this choice

Ambrosia

A ready-to-serve low-fat tin is available alongside larger Light Devon Custard cartons.

  • Tesco lists the 400g Low Fat can at 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g, with three portions.
  • The can contains milk ingredients, and one can may not provide enough portions for a larger dessert.

Sainsbury's

Its 500g ready-to-eat Lighter Custard is a four-serving option.

  • Sainsbury's states that it has 50% less fat than its standard custard and lists 1.5g fat per 100g.
  • It lists 11.8g sugars per 100g, contains milk and must be refrigerated and used within three days after opening.

ASDA

Its 500g 30% Less Fat Custard is a ready-to-serve alternative to a tin.

  • ASDA compares its fat content with its standard equivalent and lists 1.4g fat per 100g.
  • It lists 12g sugars per 100g, contains milk and has a three-day use period after opening when refrigerated.

Tesco

Tesco lists Reduced Fat Custard in 500g and 1kg packs, giving larger households two pack sizes to consider.

  • The listed sizes make it possible to choose a pack according to the number of portions needed.
  • Check the nutrition panel for the particular pack before comparing its fat or sugars with another custard.

Bird's

Low Fat Instant Custard is a mix rather than ready-to-serve tinned custard.

  • Bird's says one sachet makes three servings and lists 1.1g fat per 100g of prepared custard.
  • It needs boiling water and preparation, and its milk-related allergen information needs checking before serving.

M&S

Its Madagascan Vanilla Luxury Custard is a chilled product, not a lower-fat tin or mix.

  • M&S lists 13.6g fat per 100g for this product, which does not match a lower-fat custard choice. Its listed ingredients include milk and egg yolk.

Joybuy custard selections

These Ambrosia packs cover two ready-to-serve choices: a larger 1kg carton and a 400g low-fat tin. Choose by the quantity you need and check the current label for nutrition, allergens and storage directions.

Ambrosia Light Devon Custard 1kg

Ambrosia Light Devon Custard 1kg

Consider this 1kg carton when you need more custard than a 400g tin provides. Check its own nutrition panel and opened-pack storage directions before choosing it for the family meal.

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Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g

Choose this ready-to-serve tin if its three stated portions cover your dessert; a larger family meal may need more than one. Tesco lists 2.0g fat and 7.4g sugars per 100g for this 400g product. It contains milk, so check the pack's allergen and storage instructions.

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Common questions

Does 'less fat' mean the same thing as 'low fat'?

No: the products described here use different wording. Sainsbury's says its Lighter Custard has 50% less fat than its standard custard, while ASDA compares its 30% Less Fat Custard with its own standard equivalent. Compare the fat figure per 100g on each pack rather than treating those descriptions as interchangeable.

Should I check sugar when buying lower-fat custard?

Yes. Tesco lists 7.4g sugars per 100g for Ambrosia Low Fat Custard; Sainsbury's lists 11.8g for its Lighter Custard, and ASDA lists 12g for its 30% Less Fat Custard. Check the serving size as well as the per-100g figures.

Is lower-fat custard suitable for someone with a milk allergy?

Do not assume so. The Ambrosia, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Bird's lower-fat examples described here contain milk or milk-derived ingredients. Check the allergen statement on the particular pack before serving it.

How should I store leftover custard?

Follow the instructions for the product you open or prepare. Sainsbury's and ASDA instruct shoppers to refrigerate their 500g cartons after opening and use them within three days; Bird's says prepared instant custard should be refrigerated and treated as fresh food. Do not apply one product's timing to every tin, carton or mix.