Shoppers seeking a sugar-free custard cream
Check sugars per 100 g on the exact pack before relying on its name or dietary positioning. The custard-cream examples listed here exceed the UK sugars-free claim threshold published on legislation.gov.uk.
Who is this choice for?
People counting carbohydrate
If custard creams are part of your eating plan, check total carbohydrate per biscuit and the number you intend to eat, not just the sugars figure. Diabetes UK also advises paying attention to snack portions.
Free-from shoppers also checking sugar
A gluten- or milk-free description identifies an ingredient exclusion, not a sugar-free biscuit. The free-from custard creams listed by Sainsbury's and Asda both contain sugars.
What should you check?
Decide whether sugar-free is essential, then check the nutrition figures for the biscuit and portion you would actually choose.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Read sugars per 100 g on the exact pack. For biscuits, legislation.gov.uk sets the UK sugars-free claim threshold at no more than 0.5 g per 100 g. | If sugar-free is essential to my choice, I need the current label to establish it; a free-from description alone will not do. |
| Carbohydrate and portion | Check total carbohydrate per biscuit and multiply it by the number you intend to eat. Sainsbury's lists 8.6 g carbohydrate and 3.3 g sugars per biscuit for its standard custard creams. | I may prefer a custard cream even though it is not sugar-free, but the portion needs to fit my own eating plan. |
| Ingredient exclusions | Check which ingredients a free-from label excludes, then read sugars and carbohydrate separately. Sainsbury's lists 10.6 g carbohydrate and 3.5 g sugars per Free From custard cream. | When I need to avoid a particular ingredient, I still want to assess the biscuit's nutrition information on its own terms. |
| Sweetened alternatives | If considering a different cream biscuit, read its ingredient list, full nutrition panel and serving size. Diabetes UK notes that counting polyols for insulin adjustment is not straightforward. | Sugar-free matters more to me than the custard-cream flavour, but I do not want to mistake that claim for zero carbohydrate. |
Common label mistakes
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Reading ‘free from’ as ‘sugar-free’
Gluten- or milk-free describes specified ingredient exclusions. The custard creams listed by Sainsbury's, Asda, Schär and Lovemore still contain sugars.
Check the named exclusion for your ingredient needs, then compare sugars per 100 g with the UK claim threshold if sugar-free is essential.
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Checking sugars but not total carbohydrate
Sainsbury's standard custard cream is listed at 8.6 g total carbohydrate per biscuit, including 3.3 g sugars. The sugars figure is not the total-carbohydrate figure.
Use the current pack's carbohydrate-per-biscuit figure and the number of biscuits you intend to eat when following your eating plan.
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Assuming a sweetener settles the choice
Gullón lists maltitol in its Zero Cookies & Cream biscuit. Diabetes UK says counting polyols when adjusting insulin is not straightforward.
Read the full nutrition panel rather than relying on a sugar-free description. If you adjust insulin for snacks, discuss polyol counting with your diabetes healthcare team.
Brand and retailer examples
These figures describe the named products, not every biscuit made or sold by each brand.
Sainsbury's
Its standard and Free From custard creams allow a per-biscuit comparison.
- Sainsbury's lists 8.6 g carbohydrate and 3.3 g sugars per standard biscuit, versus 10.6 g and 3.5 g per Free From biscuit.
- Neither listed product is sugar-free.
Asda
Its listed Free From custard cream excludes cereals containing gluten and milk.
- Asda lists 11 g carbohydrate and 3.5 g sugars per biscuit.
- Those ingredient exclusions do not make this biscuit sugar-free.
Schär
Schär lists a gluten- and wheat-free custard cream at 25 g per piece.
- Its nutrition panel gives 73 g carbohydrate and 23 g sugars per 100 g.
- The biscuit is not sugar-free; a 25 g piece is not automatically the right portion for an individual.
Lovemore
Its vegan custard cream is described as free from gluten, wheat and milk.
- Lovemore lists 71.8 g carbohydrate per 100 g.
- It also lists 20.1 g sugars per 100 g, so this product is not sugar-free.
McVitie's
Joybuy's listing for Tasties Custard Creams provides an ordinary custard-cream comparison.
- The listing states 68.4 g carbohydrate per 100 g.
- It also states 30.6 g sugars per 100 g; this Tasties product is not sugar-free.
Gullón
Gullón's Zero Cookies & Cream is a different type of cream biscuit for shoppers prioritising a sugar-free label.
- Gullón describes this product as sugar-free and lists maltitol among its ingredients.
- It is not a custard cream; check its current full nutrition panel and portion when comparing carbohydrate.
A Joybuy biscuit alternative
This cream-filled sandwich biscuit is an alternative to consider when a Zero Sugar label matters more to you than choosing a custard cream.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies, 97g
This is a sandwich-cookie alternative, not a custard cream. Check sugars per 100 g, total carbohydrate and the ingredient list on the current pack before deciding whether it meets your requirements.
Questions about labels and portions
Does gluten-free or milk-free mean a custard cream is sugar-free?
No. Those descriptions concern specified ingredients. Sainsbury's lists 24.9 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From custard creams, so check sugars separately from any ingredient exclusions.
What does a UK sugars-free claim tell me?
For a food such as biscuits, UK legislation published on legislation.gov.uk permits a sugars-free claim, or one likely to mean the same thing, only when it contains no more than 0.5 g sugars per 100 g. The claim does not tell you the food's total carbohydrate or what portion fits your eating plan.
Can I use a sugar-free claim to work out an insulin adjustment?
No. A sugar-free claim does not provide the carbohydrate information needed for that decision. Diabetes UK says counting polyols for insulin adjustment is not straightforward; follow your care plan and discuss questions about polyols with your diabetes healthcare team.
How should I store an opened pack of custard creams?
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. Joybuy's listing for McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams says to close that pack tightly after opening and store it in a cool, dry place; instructions for other products may differ.