Shoppers seeking a sugar-free biscuit
You want a custard-cream-style snack for a walk and need to distinguish a sugar-free claim from other wording on the pack, such as gluten-free or milk-free.
Who is this for?
People packing for a longer walk
You are deciding whether to include biscuits alongside other food planned for the length of your hike, rather than judging the whole pack by its sugar wording.
Shoppers avoiding gluten or milk
You need to check the specific biscuit’s free-from and allergen information, then make a separate check of its sugars declaration.
What should you check?
Check the sugars declaration before comparing biscuit types, then use the full label and your plans for the walk to decide what to pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | For a food sold with a sugar-free claim in Great Britain, the legislation.gov.uk annex sets a maximum of 0.5 g sugars per 100 g. Read the current pack’s sugars figure; gluten-free, milk-free and no added sugar are different descriptions. | I want a biscuit that meets my sugar-free requirement, not one whose free-from wording refers only to other ingredients. |
| Food for the walk | Compare carbohydrate, energy and sugars on the same per-100 g basis, then check the stated per-biscuit portion. Plan the food you take around the walk’s duration rather than treating a sugar-free claim as a description of the whole nutrition panel. | For a longer hike, I need to decide what food to carry overall and whether a biscuit belongs alongside it. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the exact variant’s free-from wording, ingredients and allergen statement on the pack you receive. Do not assume another biscuit from the same brand has the same formulation. | If I avoid gluten or milk, the relevant free-from label matters to me independently of the sugar figure. |
| Pack and storage | Check pack size, the portion you intend to carry and any instructions for storing biscuits after opening. Tesco and Sainsbury’s direct shoppers to keep their examined conventional packs cool and dry and use an airtight container once opened. | I want to carry a manageable portion and follow the pack’s storage directions during and after the walk. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Reading ‘free from’ as ‘sugar-free’
Tesco’s examined Free From custard creams declare 19.9 g sugars per 100 g, while Sainsbury’s examined Free From version declares 24.9 g per 100 g. Their free-from descriptions concern other ingredients.
Read what each claim excludes and compare the separate sugars figure on the current pack.
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Using the sugar figure to judge the whole hiking snack
Sugars and total carbohydrate are separate entries on a nutrition panel. A sugar-free description alone does not tell you the biscuit’s carbohydrate or energy content.
Decide what food to take for the length of the walk, then check whether your intended biscuit portion fits that plan.
Brand and retailer examples
These declarations describe the specific custard-cream packs named below, not every biscuit in a brand’s range.
McVitie's
Tasties Custard Creams are a conventional cream-filled biscuit.
- Joybuy’s examined 300 g listing declares 30.6 g sugars per 100 g.
- The listing identifies wheat and milk; this product does not meet the sugar-free claim limit.
Crawford's
The examined custard creams are a conventional biscuit rather than a sugar-free alternative.
- Tesco’s listing for the 300 g pack declares 30.7 g sugars per 100 g.
- Check this pack’s ingredients if wheat or milk is a concern.
Tesco
The examined range includes conventional custard creams and a distinct gluten- and milk-free version.
- Tesco declares 28.3 g sugars per 100 g for its examined 400 g conventional pack and 19.9 g per 100 g for its 125 g Free From pack.
- Neither declaration meets the sugar-free claim limit; choose the Free From variant for its stated exclusions, not as a sugar-free substitute.
Sainsbury's
The examined conventional and Free From custard creams have different ingredient claims.
- Sainsbury’s declares 26.5 g sugars per 100 g for its examined 200 g conventional pack and 24.9 g per 100 g for its 125 g gluten- and milk-free pack.
- Neither is sugar-free; check the current pack for the formulation you need.
Asda
The examined conventional and Free From packs serve different ingredient preferences.
- Asda declares 29 g sugars per 100 g for its examined 400 g conventional pack and 25 g per 100 g for its 125 g Free From pack.
- Neither figure meets the sugar-free claim limit. Asda advises checking the pack because product information can change.
M&S
Extra Cream Custard Creams are a filling-focused variation, not a sugar-free one.
- Marks & Spencer describes extra vanilla cream in its examined 165 g pack.
- That specific pack declares 40.2 g sugars per 100 g.
Joybuy biscuit options
These are differently labelled biscuits to consider if you can depart from custard creams: one sandwich cookie and one digestive biscuit. Check the current pack’s sugars declaration before relying on either product’s zero-sugar wording.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies 97g
A 97 g sandwich-cookie option if a custard cream is not essential. Check the pack’s sugars per 100 g and its full nutrition panel when deciding what to take on your hike.
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Gullon Zero Sugar Free Original Digestives 400g
A 400 g digestive-biscuit pack rather than custard creams; decide how much to carry and check the current sugars declaration. The product information cautions that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, so read the pack advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘Free From Custard Creams’ mean sugar-free?
No. The free-from wording identifies particular excluded ingredients, so check sugars separately. Tesco’s examined Free From Custard Creams declare 19.9 g sugars per 100 g, above the 0.5 g-per-100 g sugar-free claim limit in the legislation.gov.uk annex applicable in Great Britain.
How do I compare biscuits before packing them?
Compare nutrition figures per 100 g, then check the per-biscuit figure against the number you intend to carry. The NHS notes that a manufacturer’s stated portion may differ from the portion you eat.
Does a sugar-free biscuit cover food needs on a long hike?
Do not use the sugar-free description alone to make that decision: it does not describe total carbohydrate or energy. University College London Hospitals’ activity guidance says activities lasting more than 60 minutes may call for carbohydrate-containing snacks and discusses planning a mix of foods for an all-day hike.
How should I store custard creams after opening the pack?
Follow the directions on your particular pack. Tesco and Sainsbury’s advise keeping their examined conventional custard creams cool and dry and storing them in an airtight container after opening.