His wife suffered from a digestive disorder which prevented her from eating anything prepared with eggs or with yeasts.
But Elizabeth Lavinia was apparently yearning for custard to go with her favorite fruit pies so Alfred Bird started experimenting in his shop.
The result was a powder that contains no eggs, but uses corn starch and coloring to achieve a thick, yellow-colored sauce when added with hot milk and sugar.
These products were apparently served to his dinner guests at home and when they met with their approval Alfred started the firm of Alfred Bird & Sons Limited.
History of custard powder
