Parents packing vegan lunchboxes
Schär’s five separate portion packs let you put unopened biscuits into different lunchboxes. Tesco Free From and Asda Free From are vegan box options if you are happy to divide the biscuits into containers at home.
Who needs which format?
Shoppers avoiding milk or gluten as well as animal ingredients
Check the claims and ingredients on the exact pack rather than assuming every custard cream has the same recipe. The current listings identify vegan options, but the stated free-from claims differ by product.
Households shopping for someone with a milk allergy
A vegan claim answers a different question from allergen labelling. The Food Standards Agency advises checking ingredient and precautionary allergen information rather than treating vegan labelling as allergy assurance.
What should you check?
Start with whether each lunchbox needs an unopened portion or whether you can divide a shared box. Then check vegan suitability and any allergen information needed for the person eating the biscuits.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan suitability | Look for a vegan claim on the exact product and read its current ingredients. Sainsbury’s standard custard creams are labelled vegetarian but list whey powder from cows’ milk. | I want custard creams suitable for a vegan eater, not just biscuits labelled vegetarian. |
| Lunchbox portions | Check whether the pack contains separate unopened portions. ASDA Groceries lists Schär as 5 x 25g portion packs, with two biscuits per pack; a serving count alone does not establish separate packs. | Several lunchboxes need separate portions, so I would rather not divide an opened box each morning. |
| Allergen information | Read the ingredients and any precautionary allergen statement on the current pack. The Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling alone should not be used as a substitute for allergen labelling. | If I am buying for someone with a milk allergy, I need to assess the allergen information separately from the vegan claim. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming vegetarian means vegan
Sainsbury’s standard custard creams are labelled suitable for vegetarians, but their ingredients list includes whey powder from cows’ milk.
Check for an explicit vegan claim on the product you are buying, then read its current ingredients.
-
Assuming every box is a portioned multi-pack
A box with several servings does not necessarily contain separate unopened packs. That distinction matters if biscuits are going into different school bags.
Check for a stated portion-pack format, such as Schär’s five individual packs, or divide a shared box into reusable containers at home.
-
Using a vegan claim as an allergy check
The Food Standards Agency warns that vegan labelling alone does not address potential allergen cross-contact.
For someone with a food allergy, check the exact pack’s ingredients and any precautionary allergen wording before use.
Relevant brands and ranges
Schär
ASDA Groceries lists Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams in a 125g format made up of five 25g portion packs.
- The listing states that the biscuits are suitable for vegans, with two biscuits in each individual pack.
- The five-pack format provides separate portions rather than one shared box.
Tesco Free From
Tesco Groceries lists its Free From Custard Creams as a 125g box suitable for vegans.
- The listing also labels this product gluten-free and milk-free.
- For separate lunchboxes, plan to portion biscuits into containers unless the pack confirms individual wrapping.
Asda Free From
ASDA Groceries lists its Free From Custard Creams in a 125g box with a Vegan Society mark.
- The listing labels the product suitable for vegans and milk-free.
- Its suggested serving count does not establish that the biscuits come in separate packs.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s standard custard creams provide a useful reminder to check the specific recipe, not just the biscuit type.
- The standard 200g product is labelled suitable for vegetarians but lists whey powder from cows’ milk, so it does not suit vegan shopping.
Joybuy custard creams
This Schär option is a portioned custard cream pack for vegan lunchboxes.
No image available
Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
The portioned format suits lunchboxes that need separate biscuit packs. ASDA Groceries lists this 125g product as five 25g packs with two biscuits in each and labels it suitable for vegans. If buying for someone with a milk allergy, check the current ingredients and any precautionary allergen statement on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Are all custard creams vegan?
No. Sainsbury’s standard custard creams, for example, are labelled suitable for vegetarians but list whey powder from cows’ milk. Check the current label of the exact product; the Schär, Tesco Free From and Asda Free From products discussed here are listed as suitable for vegans.
Which custard creams come in separate lunchbox portions?
ASDA Groceries lists Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams as five individual 25g packs, each with two biscuits. Tesco Free From and Asda Free From offer vegan 125g boxes that you can portion into lunchbox containers yourself; check the packaging if unopened individual packs are essential.
Does a vegan label make biscuits suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
Not on its own. The Food Standards Agency warns that vegan labelling should not replace allergen labelling because of possible cross-contact. Check the current ingredients and any precautionary allergen statement on the exact pack.
Where should I look for allergen information on a UK biscuit pack?
Check the ingredients list and any precautionary allergen statement on the pack. The Food Standards Agency says prepacked food must have an ingredients list and that allergens present as ingredients must be emphasised each time they appear in it.