The everyday snack that makes Gen Z think you’re old

Is this an old person snack? (Picture: Getty Images) Did you watch Bake Off this week? I did, and there’s one moment I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. Right at the end, during a preview for the next episode, Noel asked one of the contestants if he eats biscuits. And to my abject horror, the baker replied: ‘Not really, they’re an old person thing.’ I’m sorry… WHAT?! To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Noel doubled over at the response from 21-year-old Mo, and my jaw dropped. Since when are biscuits for old people? Sure, my grandparents love to crack out the biscuit tin whenever I visit, but we also go through an inordinate amount of them at Metro HQ, and the newsroom features a mix of all ages. ‘Biscuits are for everyone’ was the consensus around the office when I asked for people’s thoughts, and even the lifestyle desk’s resident Gen Z was flabbergasted by the comment. ‘That’s silly. I love biscuits with a cuppa or just as a snack,’ the 23-year-old said. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. So was Mo’s take a one-off, or does Gen Z actually have something against biscuits? It turns out, it all depends on the biscuit itself – not every biscuit offends them, but there are definitely some they won’t go near. Sign up to Switched On, Metro's new TV newsletter Hiya! I’m Sabrina Barr and I’m Metro’s TV editor. I have spent almost six years at Metro covering all corners of the TV world, and I’m now sharing all my expert insights in my brand new newsletter, Switched On. Join me for Metro's exclusive weekly guide of to what to watch From recommendations for your next binge-watch on Netflix to jaw-dropping exclusive interviews with the planet’s biggest stars, sign up to get plugged into the week’s biggest TV moments. Get the next edition below. Sign up now Are biscuits for old people? (Picture: Shutterstock / jamesclark1991) ‘Certain biscuits are for old people,’ Shannon, a 29-year-old from Plymouth, tells Metro. ‘I’m not touching a malted milk, but give me a packet of custard creams, and you won’t get it back.’ Similarly, an A-Level student from South London, who didn’t want to be named, confessed she wouldn’t be caught dead eating a rich tea biscuit. ‘I’ve only ever seen them being consumed by people over 50,’ she shared. Rich tea biscuits are also a no-no for 23-year-old Amiya, who explained her generation views them as ‘an old person choice’ because they’re ‘too bland and plain’. And it’s bad news for shortbread, ginger nuts, and Jaffa Cakes, as Gen Z have put these in the ‘old person snack’ column too. Gen Z say they won’t touch a rich tea or malted milk biscuit (Picture: Getty Images) As for which ones they will eat, anything with chocolate is deemed acceptable. ‘Chocolate digestives are the obvious choice, and I LOVE the white chocolate ones too,’ Amiya adds. Sam, a 19-year-old from Norfolk, said he was also partial to a chocolate digestive and ‘loved’ an Oreo, while Chelcie, 29, declared chocolate chip cookies her biscuit of choice, especially if they’re from M&S. Chocolate biscuits are acceptable (Picture: Shutterstock / chrisbrignell) Could M&S make biscuits ‘cool’ again? Food industry experts say biscuits are about to have a ‘big comeback’, and one of the places fuelling this is Marks & Spencer. Thanks to TikTok and Instagram, M&S has made cookies a cult foodie item that shoppers of all ages – including Gen Z – rush to buy whenever a new flavour drops. The retailer is also beloved for its custard cream selection, which includes extra creamy custard creams, chocolate-covered ones, a custard cream doughnut, and a new custard cream spread. It’s so popular, they’ve even created a custard cream ornament for your Christmas tree. And the high street favourite has just launched a new biscuit product that looks set to cause a similar stir on social media: The Big Six. St Michael’s Big Six dates back to the 1950s, and was a biscuit assortment box featuring teacakes, chocolate sandwich biscuits, and jaffa eclairs. Do you think biscuits are for old people? Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. The M&S product development team has revisited the heritage product and reimagined it for shoppers today, taking the original concept and design and giving the contents a shake-up. The biscuits inside the box are different from the original, as it’s now filled with 21 biscuits across six customer-favourite varieties. Deals of the Day I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale The new and improved line-up goes hard on chocolate, with Milk Chocolate Fudge Creams, Milk Chocolate Sandwich Fingers, Outrageously Chocolatey Marbled Whirls, All Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies, and Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Shortcakes. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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