Shoppers who need a sugars-free biscuit
If the sugars-free claim matters more than the bourbon format, compare the label and per-100 g nutrition figure before choosing an elevenses biscuit.
Who is choosing?
Gluten-free or milk-free bourbon shoppers
A Free From bourbon cream may address a specific gluten or milk exclusion. Check the exact pack for that exclusion and assess its sugar content separately.
Shoppers choosing a conventional bourbon
If neither a sugars-free claim nor an allergen exclusion is needed, per-biscuit nutrition information can help you compare the portion you intend to have at elevenses.
What should you check?
Decide whether sugars-free status, a particular allergen exclusion or the familiar bourbon format matters most; each calls for a different label check.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars-free claim | Look for an explicit claim. The legislation.gov.uk nutrition-claims annex sets a limit of 0.5 g sugars per 100 g for food described as sugars-free; use the per-100 g figure, not only the per-biscuit figure. | I need the biscuit itself to meet a sugars-free requirement, even if that means choosing something other than a bourbon cream. |
| Free From claims | Identify exactly what the product is free from, then read sugars separately. Sainsbury's lists 24.3 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From Bourbon Creams; Asda lists 18 g per 100 g for its Free From bourbon biscuits. | I want a bourbon-style biscuit without a particular ingredient, but I will not treat gluten-free or milk-free wording as a sugars-free claim. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and both “contains” and “may contain” statements. Asda's listing for McVitie's Tasties Bourbon Cream Biscuits declares wheat and says they may contain sesame and milk. | For an allergy, I need the information for the exact pack I am buying, rather than an assumption based on its name. |
| Portion information | Compare the per-100 g nutrition panel and the intended portion. Tesco lists 3.5 g sugars per biscuit for its 296 g Bourbon Creams pack; that serving figure is not the basis for a sugars-free claim. | If I am choosing a conventional bourbon for elevenses, the per-biscuit figure helps me assess the portion I plan to have. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Reading “Free From” as “sugars-free”
Free From wording can refer to gluten or milk. Sainsbury's and Asda list 24.3 g and 18 g sugars per 100 g respectively for their Free From bourbon products.
If sugars-free status is essential, look for that specific claim and check the per-100 g sugars figure against the threshold in the legislation.gov.uk nutrition-claims annex.
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Using a per-biscuit figure to judge a sugars-free claim
The sugars-free claim condition is expressed per 100 g of food. Tesco's conventional 296 g Bourbon Creams listing gives 3.5 g sugars per biscuit and includes sugar in its ingredients.
Use per-100 g information to assess the claim; use per-biscuit information to assess your intended portion.
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Assuming the biscuit name establishes allergen suitability
Ingredients and precautionary allergen statements belong to the particular product. Asda's McVitie's Tasties listing declares wheat and says the biscuits may contain sesame and milk.
Check the current pack's ingredients and allergen statements before choosing it for someone with an allergy.
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Using one claim as the whole nutrition picture
A sugars-free claim addresses sugars; it does not describe the biscuit's energy, carbohydrate or fat values.
Read the full nutrition panel and compare the portion you intend to have.
Brand and retailer references
These bourbon-biscuit examples illustrate different label checks; a brand name alone does not establish sugars-free or allergen suitability.
McVitie's
Asda lists McVitie's Tasties Bourbon Cream Biscuits in a 300 g pack.
- A conventional bourbon-cream format.
- The Asda listing declares wheat and says the product may contain sesame and milk; check the pack if these allergens matter.
Tesco
Tesco lists both conventional Bourbon Creams and Free From Bourbon Creams.
- Tesco describes its Free From version as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans.
- Its conventional 296 g Bourbon Creams listing gives 3.5 g sugars per biscuit; Free From wording should not be read as a sugars-free claim.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's describes its Free From Bourbon Creams as milk- and gluten-free.
- The listed exclusions provide a starting point for shoppers checking milk or gluten.
- Sainsbury's lists 24.3 g sugars per 100 g and 3.4 g per biscuit, so this product does not meet the sugars-free claim threshold.
Asda
Asda lists conventional Bourbon Biscuits and a Free From bourbon-biscuit option.
- Asda describes its Free From option as gluten-free, free from milk and suitable for vegans.
- The Free From option lists 18 g sugars per 100 g. Asda's conventional Bourbon Biscuits listing declares wheat and says the product may contain milk and other allergens.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Bourbon Creams and a milk-chocolate-coated bourbon-cream variety.
- M&S describes the Extra Cream variety as containing more chocolate cream.
- Check the nutrition and allergen information for the particular variety before treating it as suitable for a sugars-free or allergen-related requirement.
Waitrose
Waitrose lists Essential Bourbon Creams as chocolate-flavoured cream sandwich biscuits in a 400 g pack.
- The listing identifies a conventional bourbon-cream format.
- Check the product's nutrition panel and ingredients if sugars-free status or an allergen exclusion is required.
A chocolate sandwich biscuit option
This Joybuy option is an Oreo chocolate sandwich biscuit, not a bourbon cream. If you are considering it for a strict sugars-free requirement, check the current pack's claim and per-100 g sugars figure before buying.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies, 97 g
The chocolate sandwich format offers a different biscuit style for elevenses; it is not a bourbon cream. Check the current pack's per-100 g sugars figure and allergen statement against your requirements.
Questions about sugars and allergens
What does “sugars-free” mean on a biscuit label?
The legislation.gov.uk nutrition-claims annex sets a limit of no more than 0.5 g sugars per 100 g of food for a sugars-free claim. Check the per-100 g nutrition figure rather than relying on a per-biscuit figure.
Are gluten-free or milk-free bourbon creams also sugars-free?
Not necessarily. Sainsbury's Free From Bourbon Creams list 24.3 g sugars per 100 g, and Asda's Free From bourbon biscuits list 18 g per 100 g. Those figures exceed the 0.5 g per 100 g sugars-free claim limit stated in the legislation.gov.uk nutrition-claims annex.
Does a sugars-free label establish that a biscuit suits someone with diabetes?
No. The claim concerns sugars, not the biscuit's entire nutritional profile or an individual's dietary needs. Read the full nutrition panel and serving information rather than relying on that claim alone.
How should I check a bourbon biscuit for allergens?
Read the current pack's full ingredients and allergen statements for the exact product. For example, Asda's McVitie's Tasties Bourbon Cream listing declares wheat and says the biscuits may contain sesame and milk.