Households comparing sugar figures
If custard creams are a regular part of the weekly shop, sugars per 100g offer a consistent basis for comparing different pack sizes. A lower figure among ordinary biscuits is not the same as a reduced-sugar claim.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers considering portions
Per-biscuit figures help when deciding how many biscuits a pack will provide. The Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's product information gives different sugar figures per biscuit, although each lists 59 kcal per biscuit.
Households checking allergens
Ingredient and allergen information needs attention before sugar comparisons if someone must avoid particular ingredients. The listed Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's products contain wheat and milk ingredients; M&S Extra Cream also lists soya lecithin.
What should you check?
Decide whether you need a product labelled reduced sugar or simply want to compare ordinary custard creams, then check portions and ingredients on the pack you buy.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced-sugar claim | Look for a product-specific claim and its stated comparison. Check the current nutrition panel rather than treating a lower figure on an ordinary biscuit as proof of a reduced-sugar claim. | I need a biscuit specifically labelled reduced sugar, not just one with less sugar than another standard pack. |
| Sugar comparison | Compare sugars per 100g on the same basis. Sainsbury's lists 26.5g, Tesco 28.3g, Crawford's 30.7g on Tesco's product page, and M&S Extra Cream 40.2g; these are different products, not a claim about every custard cream. | If an ordinary custard cream will do, I want to compare the sugar figures without confusing pack size with sugar content. |
| Biscuits and pack size | Check sugars and energy per biscuit alongside the biscuit count or pack weight. Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's each list 59 kcal per biscuit, but respectively list 3.3g, 3.4g and 3.6g sugars per biscuit. | How many biscuits will the household use during the week, and what does the label say for one biscuit? |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the exact pack's ingredient and allergen information. The listed Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's products contain wheat and milk ingredients; M&S Extra Cream also lists soya lecithin. | For someone avoiding a particular ingredient, suitability comes before choosing between sugar figures. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming an ordinary custard cream is reduced sugar
The products listed by Sainsbury's, Tesco, Crawford's on Tesco's site and M&S have differing sugars-per-100g figures. That comparison alone does not establish a reduced-sugar claim for any of them.
If that claim matters to your choice, read the wording on the specific pack. Otherwise, compare the ordinary products using their nutrition panels.
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Looking only at calories per biscuit
Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's each list 59 kcal per biscuit, while their listed sugars per biscuit are 3.3g, 3.4g and 3.6g respectively. Their pack sizes also differ.
Start with sugars per 100g for a pack-to-pack comparison, then check the per-biscuit figures and pack weight for your household.
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Letting the sugar figure obscure allergens
The listed Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's biscuits contain wheat and milk ingredients, while M&S Extra Cream also lists soya lecithin.
Check the ingredient and allergen information on the exact pack before comparing sugar figures for someone with an allergy.
Brand and product references
These label figures describe specific custard cream products, not every biscuit made by each brand; check the pack for the version you choose.
Sainsbury's
Its standard Custard Creams come in a 200g pack.
- Sainsbury's lists 26.5g sugars per 100g, and 3.3g sugars and 59 kcal per biscuit.
- The listed ingredients include wheat flour and whey powder from cows' milk. A lower sugar figure than another ordinary product is not a reduced-sugar claim.
Tesco
Its standard Custard Cream Biscuits come in a 400g pack.
- Tesco lists 28.3g sugars per 100g, and 3.4g sugars and 59 kcal per biscuit.
- The listed ingredients include wheat flour and whey powder from milk; this product is not identified here by a reduced-sugar claim.
Crawford's
The standard Custard Creams listed by Tesco come in a 300g pack.
- Tesco lists 30.7g sugars per 100g, and 3.6g sugars and 59 kcal per 11.9g biscuit.
- Use the current pack to check the figures and ingredients for the product you buy.
McVitie's
A 300g Custard Creams pack provides another branded standard-product reference.
- UK wholesaler Kitwave Retail lists 30.7g sugars and 493 kcal per 100g for McVitie's Custard Creams 300g.
- Kitwave Retail warns that products can be reformulated, so check the pack rather than relying on its listing for the current figures.
M&S
M&S describes its 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams as biscuits with extra vanilla cream.
- The M&S product information lists 40.2g sugars per 100g.
- Its listed ingredients include wheat, milk and soya lecithin. The extra-cream format also differs from the standard packs above.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This gluten-free custard cream is a 125g pack to consider when checking biscuit type, pack size and the current label for a weekly shop.
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Schar Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The 125g pack is an option when you want gluten-free custard creams. Check its current ingredient, allergen and nutrition information against your household's requirements; the product name alone does not establish a reduced-sugar claim.
Frequently asked questions
Does a lower sugar figure make a custard cream reduced sugar?
No. A lower sugars-per-100g figure is useful for comparing ordinary products, but it does not establish a reduced-sugar claim. If that claim is essential, check the wording and comparison on the specific pack.
Should I compare sugars per 100g or per biscuit?
Use sugars per 100g to compare products on the same weight basis, then check the per-biscuit figure for portions. Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's list 3.3g, 3.4g and 3.6g sugars per biscuit respectively on their product information.
Can someone avoiding milk or wheat eat the standard custard creams listed here?
The listed Sainsbury's, Tesco and Crawford's products contain wheat and milk ingredients; M&S Extra Cream also lists soya lecithin. Check the exact pack's current ingredient and allergen information before deciding whether a product meets someone's requirements.
Is the supermarket webpage enough for a final ingredient check?
Check the physical pack as well, particularly when ingredients or allergens determine your choice. M&S advises that product information can change, and Kitwave Retail warns that products may be reformulated.