Tea drinkers looking for a sugar-free biscuit
The sugar-free claim and the sugars figure per 100g matter more here than whether a biscuit sits in a Free From range.
Who is choosing?
People checking carbohydrate as well as sugar
A sugar-free claim does not describe the biscuit’s total carbohydrate. Diabetes UK notes that polyol sweeteners contain carbohydrates and calories.
People looking for milk- or gluten-free Bourbons
Allergen requirements call for their own label checks. The milk- and gluten-free Bourbon examples from Sainsbury’s and Asda are not sugar-free choices.
What should you check?
Decide whether sugar-free status, the familiar Bourbon format or a particular allergen requirement is non-negotiable; then check the pack against that priority.
Sugar-free chocolate sandwich biscuit
Choose when: Sugar-free status matters more than buying a biscuit sold specifically as a Bourbon. Gullón labels its Zero Cookies & Cream product sugar-free.
Bear in mind: The Gullón product contains wheat and soya, may contain milk and mustard, and its Morrisons listing warns about excessive consumption.
Conventional Bourbon Cream
Choose when: You want the familiar Bourbon biscuit and do not require a sugar-free product.
Bear in mind: Tesco lists 25.2g sugars per 100g for its standard Bourbon Creams; the Bourbon name does not indicate sugar-free status.
Free From Bourbon
Choose when: You want a Bourbon-style biscuit labelled free from the allergens you need to avoid, such as the milk- and gluten-free examples from Sainsbury’s and Asda.
Bear in mind: Those retailers list 24.3g and 18g sugars per 100g respectively, so their Free From labels do not mean sugar-free.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Look for an explicit claim and read sugars per 100g. The sugar-free claim condition published by legislation.gov.uk is no more than 0.5g sugars per 100g for a biscuit. | If sugar-free status is essential to me, a Free From label or an impression of reduced sugar is not enough. |
| Biscuit format | Check whether the product is sold as a Bourbon, another chocolate sandwich biscuit or a different biscuit altogether. Confirm the sugar claim independently of the format. | I may accept a chocolate sandwich biscuit with tea, but if I specifically want a Bourbon, I need to check that product’s sugars figure. |
| Sweeteners and portions | Read the ingredients and carbohydrate information per serving. Diabetes UK says polyols contain carbohydrates and calories; the Morrisons listing for Gullón Zero Cookies & Cream also warns that excessive consumption may produce a laxative effect. | A sugar-free label alone will not tell me how the biscuit fits the carbohydrate checks I make. |
| Allergens | Check the current pack for ingredients, allergen declarations and any may-contain statement. A Free From claim addresses specified allergens, not sugar. | If I need to avoid milk or gluten, I will check that requirement separately from the sugars figure. |
| Current label | Compare the pack you receive with the retailer listing, particularly its ingredients, allergens and nutrition per 100g. | When a particular ingredient or sugar limit matters to me, the label on the pack is the final check before serving. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading Free From as sugar-free
Sainsbury’s lists 24.3g sugars per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Creams, and Asda lists 18g per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Biscuits. Their allergen positioning does not establish a sugar-free claim.
If sugar-free status is the requirement, check for that claim and read sugars per 100g as well as the allergen information.
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Letting another label answer the sugar question
A biscuit’s dietary or format description is not its sugars figure. Tesco’s standard Bourbon Creams, for example, list 25.2g sugars per 100g.
Check sugar, allergen and other dietary requirements as separate parts of the label.
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Assuming sugar-free means carbohydrate-free
Diabetes UK says polyol sweeteners contain carbohydrates and calories. Morrisons also carries an excessive-consumption laxative-effect warning for maltitol-containing Gullón Zero Cookies & Cream.
Read the carbohydrate information and serving size, as well as any sweetener warning on the pack. If you use an individual diabetes management plan, discuss how to account for polyols with your healthcare team.
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Relying on an older product listing
Ingredients, nutrition and allergen declarations can change, which matters when the biscuit must meet a specific requirement.
Recheck the current pack before purchase or serving rather than relying only on a previously viewed listing.
Relevant brand and retailer examples
These examples illustrate different biscuit and label choices; they do not describe every product made or sold by each brand or retailer.
Gullón
Gullón describes Zero Cookies & Cream as sugar-free. It is a chocolate sandwich biscuit alternative, not a product sold as a traditional Bourbon.
- The manufacturer’s ingredient information identifies maltitol in the filling.
- The product contains wheat and soya and may contain milk and mustard. Morrisons warns that excessive consumption may produce a laxative effect.
Tesco
Tesco’s standard Bourbon Creams provide an example of a conventional Bourbon rather than a sugar-free biscuit.
- The listed product retains the Bourbon Cream format.
- Tesco lists 25.2g sugars per 100g and includes sugar, glucose syrup and dextrose in its ingredients.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Free From Bourbon Creams are described as milk- and gluten-free biscuits.
- The Free From description addresses those stated allergen requirements.
- Sainsbury’s lists 24.3g sugars per 100g and includes sugar and glucose syrup in the ingredients.
Asda
Asda’s Free From Bourbon Biscuits are listed as free from milk and cereals containing gluten.
- They offer a Bourbon-style format with those stated Free From attributes.
- Asda lists 18g sugars per 100g; the ingredients include sugar and glucose syrup.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Bourbon Creams as part of a conventional biscuit triple pack.
- The ingredient listing identifies a Bourbon Cream product in the pack.
- That Bourbon Cream ingredient listing includes sugar and whey solids (milk), so check the specific product label if either ingredient matters to you.
Joybuy biscuit options
These Joybuy options are labelled sugar-free alternatives for tea, not traditional Bourbon biscuits: one is a sandwich biscuit and the other is a digestive.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies 97g
Consider these if a sandwich biscuit matters more than the exact Bourbon style. The product name identifies a 97g Zero Sugar pack; check the current label for sugars, carbohydrates, ingredients and any sweetener warning.
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Gullon Zero Sugar Free Original Digestives 400g
Consider these only if a digestive works for your tea-and-biscuits choice; they are not Bourbons or chocolate sandwich biscuits. The product name identifies a 400g sugar-free pack. Check the current label for sugars per 100g, ingredients and sweetener guidance.
Questions about sugar-free biscuits
What should “sugar-free” mean on a biscuit pack?
The sugar-free claim condition published by legislation.gov.uk sets a limit of no more than 0.5g sugars per 100g for a biscuit. Look for the explicit claim and compare the nutrition declaration per 100g; a Free From shelf label answers a different question.
Are Free From Bourbon Creams sugar-free?
Not necessarily. Sainsbury’s lists 24.3g sugars per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Creams, while Asda lists 18g per 100g for its Free From Bourbon Biscuits. Check the specific allergen claims and sugars figure separately.
Does sugar-free mean I can ignore carbohydrates?
No. Diabetes UK says polyol sweeteners contain carbohydrates and calories, so check the biscuit’s carbohydrate information and portion as well as its sugar claim. For individual diabetes management, Diabetes UK advises speaking to your healthcare team.
Why might a sugar-free biscuit carry a laxative-effect warning?
Morrisons lists maltitol in Gullón Zero Cookies & Cream and warns that excessive consumption may produce a laxative effect. Read the warning on the specific pack and consider the serving size rather than treating sugar-free as unlimited.
How should I check allergens before serving biscuits with tea?
Read the current pack’s ingredients, allergen declarations and any may-contain statement. Gullón identifies wheat and soya in Zero Cookies & Cream and says it may contain milk and mustard; the cited Sainsbury’s and Asda Free From Bourbons address different stated allergen needs.