Think your cream biscuits have milk? Wait till you read what’s really inside

The ‘crème’ in your favourite biscuits isn’t dairy — it’s sugar and oil in disguise. (Image: Pexels)

If you’ve ever wondered why every “cream” biscuit you’ve ever bought actually says crème on the packet, here’s the truth — it’s not a spelling error, it’s a marketing move. The word “cream,” as defined by the US Code of Federal Regulations, refers to a dairy-based product rich in milk fat (at least 18%). But what’s inside your favourite chocolate or vanilla “crème” biscuits is anything but that.

In simple terms, cream is milk-based — it’s the fatty layer skimmed off milk. Crème, on the other hand, is usually an imitation. Most mass-produced biscuits swap dairy cream for a blend of hydrogenated vegetable oils, sugar, emulsifiers, and flavouring agents. The switch allows brands to use the word “crème” legally, because there’s no actual milk involved.

Flip the pack and you’ll likely find:

• Sugar and palm oil are topping the ingredient list
• Emulsifiers and stabilisers to give that smooth texture
• Artificial flavours to mimic the richness of dairy
• Zero real milk content

This formula makes the filling creamy and shelf-stable for months, but it also makes it high in saturated fats and refined sugar — a far cry from the wholesome milk cream many assume it contains.

Eating crème-filled snacks now and then is okay, but consuming them often can:

• Boost bad cholesterol (LDL) because of hydrogenated fats
• Cause blood sugar to jump
• Lead to extra pounds and heart problems over time

Experts in nutrition say the main thing is to be aware — check the labels, know what's in them, and think of processed snacks as special treats, not everyday food.

Recently, a viral video by Satvic Youth, part of the Satvic Movement, showed a young educator explaining to schoolchildren how “cream biscuits” don’t actually contain any milk cream at all. “Cream and crème are not the same,” the video stressed, showing how the creamy filling is mostly made of vegetable oil — not dairy. The post urged viewers to look closely at packaging labels instead of trusting the marketing.

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Health experts, Dr Paul Saladino also spoke about it on TikTok and noted that the combination of refined sugar and seed oils in such products can overstimulate the brain’s reward system, making them highly addictive. A 2013 study by Connecticut College even found that this mix triggered pleasure receptors in rats’ brains in a way comparable to — and sometimes stronger than — addictive drugs like cocaine and morphine.

While the comparison sounds dramatic, it underscores how processed foods are designed to keep us coming back for more. Moderation remains key.

The next time you see crème on a biscuit wrapper, remember: it’s not milk indulgence, it’s oil and sugar in disguise. Real cream spoils in days — crème lasts for months. And that difference alone tells you exactly what you’re really eating.