Shoppers seeking a sugar-free biscuit
If sugar-free is the deciding requirement, check that the biscuit carries that claim and read its sugars value per 100 g. A Bourbon shape or a Free From label answers a different question.
Who is this choice for?
Bourbon fans with an allergy or vegan requirement
If the cocoa sandwich-biscuit format matters most, assess any milk-free, gluten-free or vegan statement separately. Asda describes its Free From Bourbon as free from milk and gluten, but lists 18 g sugars per 100 g.
Shoppers comparing carbohydrate and portions
For a small snack top-up, the sugars line is only one part of the label. Compare total carbohydrate for the portion you intend to eat, and read any sweetener warnings; Diabetes UK also advises paying attention to food labels and portion sizes.
What should you check?
Decide whether sugar-free labelling or the Bourbon format is essential before comparing packs; then check the nutrition and allergy information for the biscuit you would actually buy.
Sugar-free comes first
Choose this route: Consider a labelled sugar-free sandwich biscuit, digestive or another format if it meets your preference.
Trade-off: A different biscuit format will not have the same Bourbon recipe, and its carbohydrate, sweeteners and allergens still need checking.
Bourbon format comes first
Choose this route: Compare Bourbons when the cocoa sandwich-biscuit format or a separately stated Free From requirement matters more.
Trade-off: Tesco and Asda both list sugars in their Free From Bourbons; their Free From wording does not make those products sugar-free.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Look for an explicit sugar-free claim and read sugars per 100 g. Do not treat Free From, gluten-free or vegan wording as a sugar claim. | I need the sugar-free claim to be clear, rather than assuming a Free From Bourbon meets that requirement. Tesco lists 21.9 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From Bourbon Creams; Asda lists 18 g per 100 g for its Free From Bourbons. |
| Biscuit format | Check whether the pack is a Bourbon, another sandwich biscuit, a digestive or a wafer. A similar appearance does not establish the same recipe. | I would prefer a Bourbon, but I could switch formats if finding a biscuit labelled sugar-free matters more. |
| Carbohydrate and sweeteners | Compare total carbohydrate per 100 g and for the portion you plan to eat. Read the sweetener declaration and any excessive-consumption warning. | For a small snack, I want to know what one portion contains, not rely on the sugars figure alone. Diabetes UK notes that polyols contain carbohydrate and calories. |
| Allergens and dietary labels | Read the ingredient and allergy statements on the chosen pack. Check milk, wheat and other relevant ingredients independently of any sugar-free claim. | If I need to avoid a particular ingredient, I cannot assume that a sugar-free alternative has the same allergy information as an Asda Free From Bourbon. |
| Pack size | Check the pack weight and serving information against the amount you intend to buy and eat. | For a top-up shop, I want a pack size that works for the intended snack, rather than choosing by the sugar-free wording alone. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading Free From as sugar-free
Free From wording can concern ingredients such as milk or gluten. Tesco and Asda list 21.9 g and 18 g sugars per 100 g respectively for their Free From Bourbons.
Check for a sugar-free claim and read the sugars value per 100 g; use the allergy statement for a separate allergen decision.
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Stopping at the sugars line
A biscuit labelled sugar-free can still contain carbohydrate. Diabetes UK also notes that polyols contain carbohydrate and calories, while some sweetened biscuit packs carry an excessive-consumption laxative-effect warning.
Compare total carbohydrate for your intended portion and read any sweetener warning on the pack.
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Assuming a substitute has the same allergy information
Switching from a Free From Bourbon to a sugar-free biscuit changes the product and its ingredients; the original biscuit’s milk-free or gluten-free statement does not transfer with it.
Read the current ingredient list and allergy statement for every alternative you consider.
Brand and product references
These retailer products illustrate why Bourbon format, Free From wording and sugar-free labelling need separate checks; they do not describe every biscuit sold by each retailer.
Tesco
Tesco Free From Bourbon Creams provide a Bourbon-style option with a vegan statement.
- The product page says it is suitable for vegans.
- Tesco lists 21.9 g sugars per 100 g, so its Free From wording should not be read as sugar-free.
Asda
Asda lists both standard and Free From Bourbons, as well as a Gullón sugar-free digestive in a different biscuit format.
- Asda describes its Free From Bourbon as free from milk and gluten.
- Asda lists 18 g sugars per 100 g for that Free From Bourbon and 27 g per 100 g for its standard Bourbon.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists Siro Oaty Sugar Free Biscuits for shoppers willing to choose an oat biscuit rather than a Bourbon.
- The Siro product page lists 0.5 g sugars per 100 g.
- It is not a Bourbon, and its pack carries an excessive-consumption laxative-effect warning.
M&S
M&S lists Bourbon Creams and a separate Sugar Free Chocolate Wafer Squares product.
- The sugar-free product offers a chocolate wafer format rather than a Bourbon.
- M&S lists 36.7 g sugars per 100 g for its Extra Cream Bourbon Creams.
Waitrose
Waitrose Essential Bourbon Creams are a conventional Bourbon option, not a sugar-free alternative.
- Waitrose lists 27.8 g sugars per 100 g for this product.
Joybuy biscuit options
These options are a Zero Sugar sandwich biscuit and a sugar-free digestive for shoppers willing to consider something other than a Bourbon. Check each current pack against your sugar, carbohydrate and allergen requirements.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Biscuits 97g
For a small top-up shop, this 97g sandwich-biscuit pack offers a format other than a Bourbon. Check the current pack for its sugars, total carbohydrate, sweeteners and allergens.
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Gullon Zero Sugar Free Original Digestives 400g
If a digestive suits you instead of a Bourbon, this is a 400g pack to consider. Check its current sugars and carbohydrate figures, sweetener warnings and allergy statement before choosing it.
Questions about sugar-free biscuits
Does Free From Bourbon mean sugar-free?
No. Free From can describe an ingredient or allergen requirement rather than sugar content. Tesco lists 21.9 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From Bourbon Creams, and Asda lists 18 g per 100 g for its Free From Bourbons.
What should I read on a biscuit labelled sugar-free?
Check the sugar-free wording alongside the sugars value per 100 g on the current pack. Then read total carbohydrate, the sweetener declaration and the allergy statement; a sugar-free claim does not answer those other questions.
Can a sugar-free biscuit still contain carbohydrate?
Yes. Sugar-free describes sugar, not total carbohydrate. Diabetes UK notes that polyols contain carbohydrate and calories, so compare the total carbohydrate figure for the portion you intend to eat.
Does sugar-free make a biscuit suitable for everyone with diabetes?
No single label establishes whether a biscuit fits an individual’s dietary plan. Diabetes UK advises reading food labels and considering portion sizes; anyone making individual treatment decisions should follow advice from their healthcare team.
How should I store Bourbon biscuits after opening?
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. Waitrose says its Essential Bourbon Creams should be kept in an airtight container and consumed within seven days after opening; another product may give different instructions.