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Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice: calories, sugar, saturated fat and nutrition
How many calories are in a Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice? It contains 392 kcal, 22g of fat (10g saturated), 34g of sugar and 0.5g of salt. This sits in the middle of the range for this category.
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Source: Greggs UK nutrition information. Figures are per item as sold.
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice (115g) contains 392 kcal, which is 20% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 22g of total fat, of which 10g is saturated, 46g of carbohydrate (34g sugar), 0.6g of fibre, 4.5g of protein and 0.5g of salt.
At 10g, the saturated fat content is high, representing 50% of the adult daily guideline of 20g from this single item alone.
At 34g of sugar, the Vanilla Custard Slice has the highest free sugar content per item across all the sweet treats. The custard filling and fondant icing together account for most of this, with the puff pastry layers contributing the majority of the fat.
High in saturated fat relative to other items
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice (115g) contains 392 kcal and 10g of saturated fat, 50% of the adult daily saturated fat guideline of 20g. At 34g of sugar, the Vanilla Custard Slice has the highest free sugar content per item across all the sweet treats. The custard filling and fondant icing together account for most of this, with the puff pastry layers contributing the majority of the fat.
Reference Intakes are EU-wide guideline daily amounts for an average adult (2,000 kcal). The free sugar limit of 30g is the NHS/SACN guideline, which is stricter than the 90g total sugars RI as it excludes naturally occurring sugars in whole foods and dairy.
Sugar, salt and protein by age group
The table below shows how the sugar, salt and protein in a Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice compares to daily guidelines for different age groups.
Sugar, salt and protein by age group: Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice
Age group
Sugar (g / % limit)
Salt (g / % limit)
Protein (g / % target)
Age 4 to 6
34g / 179%
0.5g / 17%
4.5g / 23%
Age 7 to 10
34g / 142%
0.5g / 10%
4.5g / 16%
Age 11 to 17
34g / 113%
0.5g / 8%
4.5g / 11%
Adult
34g / 113%
0.5g / 8%
4.5g / 9%
Sugar and salt % shown against NHS/SACN daily limits. Protein % shown against estimated daily targets. Red = 75%+ of limit, amber = 20-74%, green = under 20%. Protein is beneficial and has no upper limit, shown for reference only.
Sugar
Vanilla Custard Slice contains 34g of sugar, 113% of the adult daily free sugar limit of 30g and 142% of the limit for a child aged 7 to 10 (24g).
This is high for a single item, and on its own accounts for more than 142% of a child's entire daily free sugar allowance.
Salt and protein
Vanilla Custard Slice provides 4.5g of protein and 0.6g of fibre. For comparison, a general guide for adult daily protein intake is around 50g, so this item provides 9% of that target, and 2% of the adult daily fibre target of 30g.
Vanilla Custard Slice contains 0.5g of salt, 8% of the adult daily limit of 6g. This is a moderate contribution, leaving room within the daily limit for other meals.
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice is made from 3 main components: puff pastry layers (x2), custard filling and fondant icing topping. Each is prepared separately, often using centrally produced ingredients, before being assembled and baked in shop ovens.
Reading the ingredient detail closely, a Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice contains emulsifiers, modified starch, flavourings and colourings. These are not used to add nutritional value. Emulsifiers help fat-based and water-based ingredients in the pastry blend together and stay blended. Modified starch thickens sauces and gravies so they hold together and do not turn watery when baked or reheated. Flavourings restore or enhance taste that may be reduced during industrial preparation and freezing. Colourings standardise the appearance of the product.
None of this means the ingredients are unsafe; all additives used are approved for use in UK food. What it indicates is the degree of industrial formulation involved. A home-baked equivalent, made with fresh pastry and a freshly made filling in one kitchen, would typically involve far fewer steps and far fewer additives. The version sold at Greggs reaches a comparable end result using centrally produced pastry and fillings, baked fresh in shop ovens, with a number of functional additives designed to keep the product consistent across thousands of shops.
Looking at the ingredient list rather than just the nutrition panel tells a different story. Even where individual macros look moderate, the number of separately manufactured components and the additives used to bind, thicken, colour and flavour them place almost every item in this range in the most processed food category under the NOVA classification system.
Processing (NOVA classification)
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed food. The NOVA classification system groups foods by the extent and purpose of the processing involved, rather than by their individual nutrients. Group 4 covers products that are formulated mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods, plus additives, using a series of industrial processes with little or no whole food remaining recognisable in the final product. In this item, that includes emulsifiers, modified starch, flavourings and colourings, on top of the laminated pastry and centrally prepared filling typical of the range. This classification applies to almost all bakery items at Greggs, and indeed to most bakery and convenience food generally; it is not a finding specific to this item.
Allergens at a glance
Allergen information: Vanilla Custard Slice
Wheat
Contains
Rye
Not present
Barley
Not present
Oats
Not present
Sesame
Not present
Soya
May contain traces
Milk
Contains
Eggs
Contains
Fish
Not present
Crustaceans
Not present
Celery
Not present
Mustard
Not present
Molluscs
Not present
Lupin
Not present
Greggs prepares food in kitchens where allergens are present and equipment is shared. "May contain traces" reflects cross-contact risk. Greggs cannot guarantee any item is completely allergen-free.
Frequently asked questions
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice contains 392 kcal, which is 20% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake.
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice contains 10g of saturated fat, 50% of the adult daily guideline of 20g, and 77% of the guideline for a child aged 7 to 10 (13g).
Yes. A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed food. It contains emulsifiers, modified starch, flavourings and colourings, used to bind, thicken, preserve or standardise the product, on top of the laminated pastry and centrally prepared filling. This is a description of how the food is made and formulated, not a statement that it is unsafe to eat.
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice contains 34g of sugar, 113% of the adult daily free sugar limit of 30g.
A Greggs Vanilla Custard Slice contains wheat, milk and eggs. May also contain traces of soya from shared kitchen equipment.
At 392 kcal, the Vanilla Custard Slice sits roughly in the middle of the range for this category.
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Nutrition and allergen information from Greggs UK official sources (greggs.com product pages and allergen guide) and convergent UK-specific estimates where official breakdowns were not available. Figures are per item as sold and may vary slightly by recipe updates or location. Seasonal items may not be on the permanent menu. Reference intakes: EU Reference Intakes for an average adult (2,000 kcal); NHS/SACN free sugar and saturated fat guidelines. For guidance only, not medical advice.
