Evening snackers keeping an eye on sugar and portions
You fancy a small sweet snack, so you compare the sugar, energy and portion size shown on the label. With a 0% sugar option, check which sweeteners it contains too.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing fibre content
You’re looking for a digestive made with wholemeal flour and want to know how much fibre the specific biscuit contains. The wholemeal label doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains.
Shoppers who need to avoid gluten or other allergens
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack first. A gluten-free biscuit may still contain other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which feature matters most for your late-night snack. Then compare the exact products using their labels, rather than relying on the product name alone.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and portion size | Compare the sugar and energy per 100 g with the portion shown on the packaging. For a 0% sugar option, check the ingredients and warnings too. | If I have a biscuit late at night, I want to know how many I’m having and how much sugar that portion contains. For roughly 40% of consumers, portion size and sugar would come first. |
| Fibre and wholemeal flour | Check the fibre per 100 g and the proportion of wholemeal flour in the ingredients; compare the sugar content too. | If you choose wholemeal, you’ll want to know how much fibre the biscuit actually contains. For around 30% of consumers, this would be the top priority. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warning, on the specific pack. | If I need to avoid gluten or another allergen, the full allergen information must be compatible with my dietary requirements. For roughly 20% of consumers, this check would determine their choice. |
| Flavour and pack size | Choose between a plain biscuit and an option with, for example, chocolate or caramel; check how many biscuits are in the pack. | If I simply want a biscuit with no specific nutritional or allergen requirements, I mainly want a flavour and pack size that suit how I’ll use it. For around 10% of consumers, this would be the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming the name ‘digestive’ tells you what’s in it
The name doesn’t tell you how much fibre or sugar a biscuit contains. The plain and wholemeal options reviewed here differ in both respects.
Use the name to identify the type of product, then compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact option.
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Assuming 0% sugar means you can eat as many as you like
Albert Heijn states that AH Digestive 0% sugar contains polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the portion size, energy and warning on the packaging before choosing this recipe.
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Overlooking other allergens when choosing gluten-free
The Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade reviewed here also contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts.
Read the full allergen information on the pack, including any ‘may contain’ details.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has plain, wholemeal and 0% sugar digestive biscuits in 400 g packs among the products reviewed.
- The product information lists 3.2 g of fibre and 16 g of sugar per 100 g for the plain option, and 6 g of fibre and 20 g of sugar per 100 g for the wholemeal option.
- The 0% sugar option contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the current packaging.
Jumbo
The Jumbo products reviewed include plain and wholemeal digestive biscuits, as well as a gluten-free option with milk chocolate.
- The wholemeal option lists 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The gluten-free chocolate option lists 32.7 g of sugar per 100 g and contains milk, oats and soya. Compare this option separately.
McVitie's
McVitie's offers Digestives Original alongside options including chocolate and caramel varieties.
- Digestives Original, in a 400 g pack, lists 3.7 g of fibre and 15.1 g of sugar per 100 g.
- Don’t apply the figures for Original to options with a different flavour or coating; check their own labels.
Biscotto / ALDI
Biscotto Digestive Biscuits are a wheat biscuit sold by ALDI.
- ALDI states that the pack contains approximately 27 biscuits.
- Compare fibre, sugar and allergens using the packaging for the option you choose.
Sondey / Lidl
Sondey is a Lidl brand of biscuits and cookies; plain Digestives are also listed.
- The plain option is worth comparing with other digestive biscuits for its flavour and ingredients.
- For ingredients, nutritional information and allergens, refer to the packaging of that specific product, rather than general information about Sondey.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is a caramelised biscuit for anyone looking for a different flavour, rather than a direct alternative to a digestive.
- Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
- Compare Biscoff’s nutritional information and allergens separately; don’t assume it shares the characteristics of a digestive.
Classic digestive biscuits at Joybuy
This product is a good fit if you’re looking for a classic digestive for a late-night snack, without specifically wanting a wholemeal or gluten-free option.
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McVitie's Digestives Original, 400 g
A classic digestive for anyone who isn’t looking for a wholemeal or gluten-free option.
Digestives Original lists 483 kcal, 15.1 g of sugar and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g. This biscuit contains wheat; check the current packaging for all allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Does a wholemeal digestive automatically contain less sugar?
No, the wholemeal label alone tells you nothing about the sugar content. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal options reviewed here list 20 g and 19.3 g of sugar per 100 g respectively. So compare both fibre and sugar on the packaging.
Can I eat as many 0% sugar digestive biscuits as I like?
No, 0% sugar doesn’t mean portion size no longer matters. AH Digestive 0% sugar lists 465 kcal per 100 g, and Albert Heijn warns that the polyols may have a laxative effect if consumed in excess. Read the nutritional information and warning on the pack.
Are plain digestive biscuits gluten-free?
The plain digestive biscuits from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and McVitie's reviewed here contain wheat. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too: Jumbo’s gluten-free chocolate option reviewed here contains milk, oats and soya.
How should I store an opened pack of digestive biscuits?
Seal the pack well after opening and store it somewhere dry. Albert Heijn also recommends storing them in an airtight tin; check the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.