Salt-first lunch planners
You want to compare ready-to-serve tins by salt per 100g rather than assuming that a light or low-fat label means less salt.
Who this is for
Shoppers comparing sugars and fat
You want to weigh sugars and fat alongside salt when choosing custard to serve with lunch.
Households planning several portions
You want to check the serving suggestion, milk ingredients and instructions for keeping custard after opening.
What to check when buying
Start with the nutrition figures per 100g to compare tins, then check the amount you expect to serve and how you will keep any leftovers.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt | Compare salt per 100g on ready-to-serve tins. Tesco Groceries lists 0.10g for its 400g tin; Ambrosia lists 0.12g for Light Devon Custard. | If salt is my main consideration at lunch, I want the lower figure on a like-for-like label. About 42% of consumers would put this comparison first. |
| Sugars and fat | Read sugars and fat per 100g alongside salt. Tesco lists 8.5g sugars and 3.8g fat; Ambrosia Light lists 7.4g sugars and 2.0g fat. | A slightly lower salt figure matters less to me if I also want to compare sugars and fat in the custard I serve. About 33% of consumers would prioritise that balance. |
| Portions and keeping leftovers | Check the serving suggestion, milk ingredients and after-opening directions. The checked Tesco and Ambrosia tins specify refrigeration and use within three days of opening. | When one tin needs to cover several lunches, I need portions and leftover storage to work for my household, as well as a clear check of the ingredients. This would be the main concern for about 25% of consumers. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Reading “light” as “reduced salt”
Ambrosia describes its Light Devon Custard as lower in sugar and fat than its standard custard, but that does not establish a reduced-salt claim. The checked Tesco standard tin lists less salt per 100g.
Compare the salt row separately, then read the sugars and fat figures for the same 100g amount.
-
Comparing different labelled servings
Tesco Groceries gives a 200g serving for its tin, while Ambrosia gives 130g for Light Devon Custard. Per-serving figures therefore describe different amounts of custard.
Choose between tins using per-100g values, then use the current pack to work out the nutrition for your intended portion.
-
Treating an opened tin as cupboard-stable
The checked Tesco and Ambrosia products give instructions to refrigerate remaining custard and use it within three days of opening.
Follow the current pack’s transfer and storage directions, and plan when you will use the remaining portions.
-
Overlooking milk ingredients
The checked custards contain milk. A light recipe is not the same thing as a dairy-free recipe.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you are buying.
Brands to consider
Ambrosia
Ambrosia Light Devon Custard is a 400g ready-to-serve can for shoppers comparing salt, sugars and fat together.
- Ambrosia lists 0.12g salt, 7.4g sugars and 2.0g fat per 100g for this product.
- The brand’s lower-sugar-and-fat comparison is against its own standard custard, not a reduced-salt claim. The product contains milk.
Tesco
Tesco Ready To Serve Custard 400G is the standard tin with the lower salt figure of the two checked tins.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.10g salt per 100g and a 200g labelled serving containing 0.20g salt.
- Its listed sugars and fat per 100g are higher than those of the checked Ambrosia Light tin; compare these figures if salt is not your only concern.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s Ready To Eat Lighter Custard 500g is an option to examine if a tin is not essential.
- Sainsbury’s lists 0.15g salt and 1.5g fat per 100g for this product.
- It also lists 11.8g sugars per 100g. Check the current pack format before choosing it specifically as tinned custard.
Tinned custard on Joybuy
This 400g Ambrosia can is an option if you want to compare salt, sugars and fat on a ready-to-serve tinned custard label. Check its current serving suggestion before using per-serving figures.
Image unavailable
Ambrosia Low Fat Custard 400g
For a tinned lunch accompaniment when you want to read salt alongside sugars and fat, this product lists 0.12g salt, 7.4g sugars and 2.0g fat per 100g. It contains milk; follow its after-opening refrigeration directions and check the current pack’s serving size before comparing per-serving values.
Questions about tinned custard
What does “low salt” mean on a custard label?
NHS inform defines low salt as 0.3g salt or less per 100g. Tesco Groceries lists 0.10g per 100g for Tesco Ready To Serve Custard, and Ambrosia lists 0.12g for Light Devon Custard. Use those per-100g figures for the comparison, then account for the amount you serve.
Does “light” or “low fat” mean less salt?
Not necessarily: read the salt figure separately. Ambrosia describes its Light Devon Custard as lower in sugar and fat than its standard custard, while the checked Tesco standard tin lists a lower salt figure per 100g.
How should I keep custard left over from an opened tin?
Follow the directions on the tin you buy. The checked Tesco and Ambrosia tins direct shoppers to remove the remaining custard from the can, refrigerate it and use it within three days.
Do the checked custards contain milk?
Yes, the checked Tesco and Ambrosia products identify milk in their ingredient or allergen information. Check the current pack rather than assuming that a light or low-fat custard is free from milk.