Hosts comparing sugar figures
If you want a plain cracker for a coffee morning, compare total sugars per 100g rather than assuming every savoury cracker has a similar figure.
Who is this for?
Hosts catering for different guests
When choosing crackers and toppings for a group, salt, saturated fat and the allergen information on each pack matter alongside sugar.
What should you compare?
Compare crackers on the same per-100g basis first, then consider the portion you will serve and everything you plan to put on top.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100g. Check the cracker weight and per-cracker figure when planning portions. Read the ingredients if sugar or syrups matter to your choice. | I want a cracker base with a lower listed sugar figure, rather than relying on a savoury name. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda listings put the checked plain cream crackers at 0.6–1.5g sugars per 100g; Ocado lists 8.5g for the checked Ritz Original. |
| Salt and saturates | Compare both figures per 100g as well as sugar. Tesco lists 0.83g salt per 100g for its cream crackers and 1.5g for the checked Carr’s Table Water Crackers. | If my toppings are salty, I want to consider the cracker’s salt figure too. A lower sugar figure would not settle that choice for me. |
| Toppings and allergens | Read the current ingredient and precautionary statements on each cracker and topping. Check the assembled serving, not just its plain base. | I need to know what each guest can be served. The checked listings identify wheat and, for some products, additional allergen warnings. |
| Pack and storage | Check pack size against the number of servings you plan. Follow the pack’s directions after opening; Tesco’s cream crackers and the checked Carr’s table water biscuits specify an airtight container. | For a coffee morning spread, I want enough crackers without overlooking how an opened pack should be kept. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating ‘low sugar’ and ‘reduced sugars’ as interchangeable
A low absolute sugar figure does not show that a product contains less sugar than a comparable cracker.
Use the per-100g figure for your comparison, and do not assume a formal ‘reduced sugars’ claim applies without checking the product’s substantiated claim.
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Choosing on sugar alone
The checked plain crackers differ in listed salt, saturated fat and allergen warnings. The cracker’s figures also do not describe its topping.
Check the current labels for both parts of the serving before offering them to guests.
Toppings need to be chosen separately; their ingredients and nutrition are not included in the plain cracker’s figures.
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Assuming similar online names mean identical nutrition
Tesco lists 1.5g sugars per 100g for its Carr’s Table Water Crackers, while a similarly named Joybuy listing gives 0.6g per 100g. Those figures should not be treated as one confirmed formulation.
Use the nutrition and allergen information on the pack you receive when the listings differ.
Brand and product-line references
Jacob’s
Tesco lists Jacob’s Original Cream Crackers 300g as a plain topping base with 0.6g sugars per 100g.
- The listed sugar figure gives a point of comparison with other plain crackers.
- The same listing gives 1.3g salt and 6.3g saturates per 100g, and identifies wheat.
Carr’s
Tesco lists Carr’s Table Water Crackers 125g at 1.5g sugars per 100g.
- The table water cracker format offers a different base for toppings from a cream cracker.
- Tesco lists 1.5g salt per 100g and a possible sesame presence. A similarly named Joybuy listing gives a different sugar figure, so check the actual pack.
Ritz
The Ritz Original crackers listed by Ocado are a distinct option from the checked plain cream crackers.
- They offer another cracker style when that is what guests prefer.
- Ocado lists 8.5g sugars per 100g for this product and names sugar and glucose-fructose syrup in its ingredients; this does not describe every Ritz variant.
Tesco
Tesco Cream Crackers 300g provide a plain base; Tesco lists 1.3g sugars per 100g.
- The listing supplies per-100g and per-cracker figures for portion planning.
- Tesco lists 0.83g salt and 6.2g saturates per 100g and identifies wheat. Check the current pack for its ingredients and allergens.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Cream Cracker 300g is another plain base, listed at 1.1g sugars per 100g.
- Its listed sugar figure can be compared by weight with the other checked cream crackers.
- Sainsbury’s lists 1.34g salt per 100g and warns that the product is unsuitable for people allergic to milk, rye, barley or oats because of manufacturing methods.
Asda
Asda Classic Cream Crackers 300g are a plain, vegan-labelled option, listed at 1.5g sugars per 100g.
- The listing identifies a plain cracker option for comparing per-100g figures.
- Asda lists 0.90g salt per 100g, identifies wheat and warns of possible oats, rye and barley. Vegan labelling does not replace an allergen check.
Joybuy cracker options
These Joybuy options include cream crackers, a Ritz Breaks variant, a Carr’s selection box and saltines. Compare the exact variant and its current pack information before applying figures from the separately listed crackers above.
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Jacob’s Cream Crackers Twin Pack 2x200g
A plain cream cracker option for serving with toppings; the twin pack contains 2x200g. Check this pack’s nutrition and allergens rather than applying figures from the separately listed 300g product.
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Ritz Breaks Original 190g
A 190g Ritz Breaks Original variant for guests who prefer that cracker style. It is not the Ritz Original product in the Ocado comparison, so check this variant’s own nutrition and allergen label.
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Carr’s Selection 200g
A 200g cracker selection when you want to offer more than one type with toppings. Check the nutrition and allergens for the crackers in this box rather than using figures for Carr’s Table Water Crackers.
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Garden Saltine Crackers Original 210g
A 210g saltine cracker option for serving with toppings. Compare its current sugar and salt figures per 100g with the other packs you are considering, and check its allergen label before serving.
Questions about serving crackers
Does a low sugar figure mean a cracker is ‘reduced sugars’?
No. An absolute figure does not establish a reduction against a similar product. The NHS uses 5g or less total sugars per 100g as its low-sugar guide for solid food; compare the label figures, but do not treat that guide as proof of a ‘reduced sugars’ claim.
How should I keep crackers after opening?
Follow the directions on the pack you serve. The checked Tesco Cream Crackers and Carr’s Table Water Crackers listings say to keep an opened pack in an airtight container.
What should I check for guests with allergies?
Read the current labels for both crackers and toppings, including ingredient and precautionary statements. The checked cracker listings identify wheat, while additional warnings vary; neither an online listing nor a vegan label establishes that the complete serving suits a particular guest.