Shoppers looking for a sugar-free packed-lunch biscuit
Check the sugars figure for the exact biscuit. A custard-cream name or a Free From label does not establish that it meets a sugar-free requirement.
Who is choosing?
Shoppers open to a different filled biscuit
A cocoa-and-cream sandwich biscuit may be worth considering if custard-cream flavour is not essential. Compare its sugars, total carbohydrate, sweeteners and allergens on the particular pack.
Shoppers comparing carbohydrate information
Read total carbohydrate and portion information alongside sugars. A sugar-free description does not mean a biscuit contains no carbohydrate.
What should you check?
Decide whether the biscuit must be a custard cream, then compare nutrition information for the exact pack and the portion you intend to carry.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars claim | Read sugars per 100 g, not just a front-of-pack phrase. The original annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published by legislation.gov.uk, gives no more than 0.5 g sugars per 100 g as the sugar-free threshold for foods. | I need a biscuit that meets my sugar-free requirement, rather than one labelled only Free From or no added sugar. |
| Biscuit type | Check whether the product is a custard cream or another filled biscuit, and read its flavour and ingredient description. | If custard-cream flavour matters to me, a cocoa-and-cream sandwich biscuit is a substitute, not the same choice. |
| Portion information | Compare total carbohydrate and sugars on the same per-100 g basis. Use per-biscuit figures where provided, without assuming biscuits are the same size. | For a packed-lunch portion, I want to know what the biscuits I take contribute, not just what the sugar-free wording says. |
| Allergens | Read the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen information, including any relevant precautionary warnings. Check the delivered pack even if you consulted a listing beforehand. | I need to check suitability for the person eating the biscuit; similar-looking fillings can have different ingredients. |
| Packing | Follow the pack’s storage directions and check whether the portion needs a separate container once the pack is open. | I want the biscuits I pack to be stored as directed until lunchtime. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading Free From as sugar-free
Tesco lists 19.9 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From custard creams, while Sainsbury’s lists 24.9 g per 100 g for its version. Free From describes particular excluded ingredients, not the sugars figure.
Check what the product is free from, then read its sugars-per-100 g entry separately.
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Treating every cream-filled biscuit as a custard cream
Diablo describes its Extra Dark Cocoa Cookie with Vanilla Cream as a cocoa sandwich biscuit. Its format matters if you are choosing specifically for custard-cream flavour.
Decide whether a different filled biscuit is acceptable before comparing its sugars with those of custard creams.
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Assuming sugar-free means carbohydrate-free
Diablo reports 66 g carbohydrate and 17 g polyols per 100 g for its Extra Dark Cocoa Cookie with Vanilla Cream. The NHS notes that excessive consumption of polyols may produce laxative effects.
Check total carbohydrate, sweeteners and the portion on the current pack.
Brand and product references
These figures refer to the named products, not to every biscuit made by each brand or to Joybuy availability.
Tesco
Tesco lists both classic and Free From custard creams; the dietary-range name does not describe their sugars content.
- Tesco lists 28.3 g sugars per 100 g for its 400 g classic pack and 19.9 g per 100 g for its 125 g Free From pack. Both exceed the 0.5 g-per-100 g sugar-free check.
Crawford’s
The 300 g Crawford’s custard creams listing describes a conventional filled biscuit.
- Tesco lists 30.7 g sugars per 100 g and 3.6 g per biscuit for this product; it does not meet the sugar-free check.
Sainsbury’s
Its classic and Free From custard creams are distinct products, so check the relevant pack rather than applying one product’s figures to the other.
- Sainsbury’s lists 26.5 g sugars per 100 g for its classic custard creams and 24.9 g per 100 g for its milk- and gluten-free version. Neither meets the sugar-free check.
M&S
M&S describes its Extra Cream Custard Creams as having more vanilla cream filling; that is not a sugar-reduction claim.
- M&S lists 40.2 g sugars per 100 g for this product, above the sugar-free check.
Gullón
Gullón describes Zero Cookies & Cream as sugar-free, but it is a cocoa-and-cream sandwich biscuit rather than a custard cream.
- A similarly named 210 g Joybuy listing gives 2.4 g sugars per 100 g. Do not treat the two descriptions as interchangeable without checking the exact product and pack.
Diablo
Diablo describes its Extra Dark Cocoa Cookie with Vanilla Cream as a sugar-free cocoa sandwich biscuit, not a custard cream.
- Diablo reports 0.4 g sugars per 100 g for its 176 g product.
- The manufacturer also reports 66 g carbohydrate and 17 g polyols per 100 g. Check the current pack when considering it as a substitute.
A filled-biscuit alternative on Joybuy
This sandwich-biscuit option is for shoppers willing to choose something other than a custard cream for lunch. Confirm the exact pack’s sugars and other nutrition information before deciding whether it meets your requirements.
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Oreo Zero Sugar Sandwich Cookies, 97 g
These sandwich biscuits are an alternative to custard creams, not a custard-cream option. Check the exact pack’s sugars per 100 g, total carbohydrate, sweeteners and allergens before putting it in a packed lunch.
Questions about choosing and packing
Does Free From mean a custard cream is sugar-free?
No. Tesco lists 19.9 g sugars per 100 g for its Free From custard creams, and Sainsbury’s lists 24.9 g per 100 g for its version. Check what each label says the product is free from, then read the sugars figure.
Is no added sugar the same as sugar-free?
No. The original annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, published by legislation.gov.uk, sets out different conditions for the two claims. For the sugar-free comparison here, check whether the exact biscuit lists no more than 0.5 g sugars per 100 g rather than relying on no added sugar wording.
Does sugar-free mean a biscuit has no carbohydrate?
No. Diablo, for example, reports 0.4 g sugars but 66 g total carbohydrate per 100 g for its Extra Dark Cocoa Cookie with Vanilla Cream. Read both figures and check the portion on the biscuit you choose.
How should I pack custard creams for later in the day?
Follow the directions on the particular pack. Tesco says to keep its classic custard creams in a cool, dry place and, once opened, in an airtight container.
What should I check when buying biscuits for someone with an allergy?
Read the ingredients, allergen declaration and any precautionary warnings on the exact delivered pack. Do not assume that two custard creams, or a custard cream and a substitute, contain the same ingredients.