Campers seeking sugar-free biscuits
Check for a sugar-related claim on the exact pack, then read its ingredients and nutrition panel. A custard cream labelled free from gluten or milk can still contain sugar.
Who needs to check what?
Campers avoiding gluten or milk
Choose by the exclusion stated on the current pack and check its allergen information. Gluten-free, milk-free and lactose-free are distinct claims; none establishes that a biscuit is sugar-free.
Campers planning dry snacks
Look for biscuits with storage directions you can follow at the festival. Keep packs protected from damp, pests and contamination, especially after opening.
What matters when choosing?
Check the dietary requirement before choosing a flavour or pack format; then consider how you will store the biscuits.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Read the exact claim, ingredients and sugars per 100g on the current pack. Tesco Groceries lists 19.9g sugars per 100g for Tesco Free From Custard Creams; Ocado lists 23g per 100g for Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams. | I need a biscuit that meets a sugar-free requirement, not simply one labelled gluten-free or milk-free. |
| Nutrition panel | Compare figures on the same per-100g basis, then check the serving information if portion size matters. Read carbohydrate separately from sugars. | If I follow a clinician-directed diet, I need the pack's carbohydrate and portion information alongside my individual advice, rather than a claim alone. |
| Allergens | Check the exact pack's exclusion claims and allergen statement. Tesco Free From is labelled gluten-free and milk-free, while Schär is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free. | I need to confirm that the particular biscuit matches the ingredient or allergen restriction I'm shopping for. |
| Festival storage | Follow the pack's storage directions and protect opened biscuits in a clean, sealed food-safe container. The Food Standards Agency recommends considering predominantly dry foods for camping. | My snacks need to stay dry and protected from pests and contamination without relying on chilled storage. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming free-from means sugar-free
Free-from custard creams can address a gluten or milk requirement while still containing sugar. Tesco Groceries, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Asda list sugars for their respective free-from products.
Check the sugar-related claim, ingredients and sugars per 100g on the exact pack before choosing it for a strict sugar requirement.
-
Using a sugar claim as a medical assurance
A sugar-related claim does not describe a biscuit's full carbohydrate content or establish its suitability for an individual care plan.
For a clinician-managed diet, review the current nutrition panel and portion information against the advice you have been given.
-
Leaving opened biscuits exposed
Damp, pests and contaminated surfaces can affect food kept at a campsite. An opened pack also needs protection if it is to stay dry.
Bring unopened packs where practical; once opened, close the pack tightly or use a clean, sealed food-safe container.
Brand and product-line references
Tesco
Tesco lists both conventional and free-from custard creams, which serve different shopping requirements.
- Tesco Groceries lists a 400g conventional pack and a 125g Free From pack labelled gluten-free and milk-free.
- The Free From pack lists 19.9g sugars per 100g, so its exclusion claims should not be read as a sugar-free claim.
Schär
Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams are an option to examine for their stated gluten-free and lactose-free claims.
- The 125g product is also labelled vegan.
- Ocado lists 23g sugars per 100g for this product; its free-from claims do not make it sugar-free.
McVitie's
McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams are a conventional biscuit reference, not a sugar-free alternative.
- Joybuy's product details identify a 300g pack.
- The same listing reports 30.6g sugars per 100g and says that this product is no longer available there.
M&S
M&S Milk Chocolate Coated Custard Cream is a chocolate-coated variation rather than a sugar-free route.
- The product information gives cool, dry storage directions.
- Ocado lists 43.2g sugars per 100g for this product. Check whether its storage directions are practical for your trip.
Joybuy biscuit option
This Oreo sandwich cookie is an alternative biscuit format to consider if you are looking beyond custard creams. Check the current pack against your sugar and ingredient requirements before packing it.
No image available
Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies, 97g
This is a sandwich cookie rather than a custard cream, so the biscuit type and flavour differ from the one you may be seeking. Check the current ingredients, nutrition panel and allergen statement before relying on its Zero Sugar name for a dietary requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Does free-from mean a custard cream is sugar-free?
No. Tesco Groceries, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Asda list sugars in their respective free-from custard creams. Check the exact sugar claim, ingredients and nutrition panel rather than treating a gluten or milk exclusion as a sugar claim.
Is a sugar-free label enough for a clinician-managed diet?
No. A sugar-related claim does not establish individual medical suitability. Check the current carbohydrate, sugars and portion information alongside the advice in your care plan.
How should I store custard creams at a festival?
Follow the pack's directions and keep biscuits protected from damp and contamination. The Food Standards Agency advises considering predominantly dry foods for camping and using sealed containers to help protect food from pests and contamination.
Are custard creams suitable if I avoid gluten or milk?
It depends on the exact product and the exclusion you need. Tesco Free From is labelled gluten-free and milk-free; Schär's custard creams are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free. Check the current pack's claims, ingredients and allergen statement before choosing either.