Label checkers on the go
You’re looking for a plain digestive for the journey and want to compare sugars, saturates, salt and fibre on the same basis: per 100 g.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Travellers checking allergens
If you’re sharing biscuits in the car, you’ll want to check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current pack in advance.
Planners checking pack sizes and availability
You want to know before setting off which pack is suitable to take with you and whether it’s available from your chosen shop.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the type of biscuit and any allergens. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how you’ll store the pack during your journey.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars, saturates, salt and fibre per 100 g. Don’t just look at the figures per serving. | When I’m considering different digestive biscuits, I want to compare all the figures side by side rather than focus on just one nutrient; around 33% of consumers prioritise this kind of label comparison. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information on the current pack and check for warnings about possible traces of other ingredients if these are relevant to you. | When I’m sharing biscuits with fellow travellers, I need to know which ingredients matter to them. For around 27% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
| Taking them with you and storage | Check the pack size and storage instructions. Consider whether you can keep the opened pack dry and sealed while travelling. | For a journey with several snack breaks, I want to be able to share the biscuits without leaving the opened pack loose in the car; around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack size and whether the product is available from your chosen shop. | If I want to sort out the snacks before setting off, the pack needs to suit my travelling party and be easy to find in time. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Looking only at the fibre content
The fibre content doesn’t tell you how much sugar, saturated fat and salt the same biscuit contains. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Joybuy shows different figures for these nutrients.
When comparing products, look at all four figures per 100 g side by side and read the ingredients list too.
-
Confusing vegan or lactose-free with allergen-free
Albert Heijn describes its Digestive as vegan and lactose-free, but also lists wheat and possible traces of other cereals.
Check the allergen information on the current pack every time you buy, even if you already know the product.
-
Choosing a large pack without thinking about the rest of the journey
A 400 g pack may be suitable for sharing, but you’ll still need somewhere to store the remaining biscuits once it’s open.
Choose a pack size that suits your group and, if needed, take a sealable container or bag with you.
An extra container or bag takes up space in the car.
-
Comparing speculoos as if it were the same type of biscuit
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff Original as speculoos, not as a classic digestive. Its flavour and listed nutritional values also belong to a different product.
Choose speculoos if that’s the flavour you want; compare plain digestive biscuits with one another if you’re looking for a digestive.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive is a plain digestive biscuit sold in a 400 g pack.
- Albert Heijn lists 3.2 g of fibre, 1.8 g of saturated fat and 0.78 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product contains wheat and may contain barley, oats and rye. Check the current packaging if the ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
Jumbo
Jumbo Krokante Digestive Biscuit is a plain digestive biscuit sold in a 400 g pack.
- Jumbo lists 3.1 g of fibre and 1.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
- The product information also lists 19.2 g of sugars and 1.24 g of salt per 100 g, gluten and wheat, and possible traces of barley, oats and rye.
Biscotto (ALDI)
ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as a 400 g pack containing approximately 27 biscuits.
- The stated pack size and approximate number of biscuits can help when choosing a pack to share.
- Check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack if these are important to your choice.
Lidl
Lidl lists Digestives naturel as a 400 g product available in store only.
- The pack size is clearly stated, which is helpful if you’re working out how much you’ll need in advance.
- Check the label in store for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
McVitie's
McVitie's Digestive Original is a plain digestive biscuit sold in a 400 g pack.
- Joybuy lists 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists 10.1 g of saturated fat and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g. When buying, also check the information about wheat and possible traces of milk.
Lotus Biscoff
According to Lotus Bakeries, Biscoff Original is speculoos for anyone looking for a distinctive caramelised flavour, rather than a plain digestive.
- It’s a separate flavour option alongside classic digestive biscuits.
- Lotus Bakeries lists 38.1 g of sugars, 8 g of saturated fat and 1.3 g of fibre per 100 g; the ingredients include wheat and soya.
Comparing digestive biscuits
This combined ranking compares product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Joybuy: first by saturated fat and salt per 100 g, then by fibre. It isn’t a taste test or an assessment of the biscuits’ overall nutritional value.
| Position | Product | Details | How it compares | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AH Digestive 400 g | Per 100 g: 1.8 g of saturated fat, 0.78 g of salt, 3.2 g of fibre and 16 g of sugars. Contains wheat. | For this plain digestive, Albert Heijn lists the same amount of saturated fat as Jumbo and less salt per 100 g. Consider the other figures and allergens too. | Albert Heijn |
| 2 | Jumbo Krokante Digestive Biscuit 400 g | Per 100 g: 1.8 g of saturated fat, 1.24 g of salt, 3.1 g of fibre and 19.2 g of sugars. Contains gluten and wheat. | Jumbo lists the same amount of saturated fat as Albert Heijn, but more salt per 100 g. That determines its position in this combined ranking. | Jumbo |
| 3 | McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g | Per 100 g: 10.1 g of saturated fat, 1.3 g of salt, 3.7 g of fibre and 15.1 g of sugars. Contains wheat and may contain milk. | For this variety, Joybuy lists more fibre, but also more saturated fat and salt per 100 g than the two own-brand products above. | Joybuy |
Digestive biscuit options on Joybuy
These three McVitie's varieties include a plain digestive and two chocolate digestives. First decide whether you want a plain biscuit or one with a chocolate coating, then check the label and pack size for your journey.
Image unavailable
McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g
For anyone looking to take a plain digestive on their journey and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
For this 400 g variety, Joybuy lists 3.7 g of fibre, 15.1 g of sugars, 10.1 g of saturated fat and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g.
When buying, check the current label for wheat and possible traces of milk. Keep the biscuits dry and seal the pack securely after opening.
Image unavailable
McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate 266 g
For anyone who’d prefer a milk chocolate digestive on their journey instead of a plain, uncoated biscuit.
The pack contains 266 g. Compare sugars and saturated fat per 100 g with the plain variety, and check the current label for milk, soya, wheat and gluten.
Keep the pack dry and consider how you’ll seal it after opening.
Image unavailable
McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate 266 g
For anyone looking for a dark chocolate digestive as an alternative to the plain variety.
The pack contains 266 g. Compare the sugars and saturated fat per 100 g with other digestive biscuits, and read the current label for wheat, milk and soya.
Keep the biscuits dry while travelling and seal the opened pack securely.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare digestive biscuits from different brands?
Compare sugars, saturated fat, salt and fibre per 100 g. Voedingscentrum uses this basis for label comparisons; figures per serving may be based on different serving sizes. Also read the ingredients list.
Are digestive biscuits automatically gluten-free?
No. The product information for the Albert Heijn, Jumbo and McVitie's digestive biscuits mentioned here lists wheat or gluten. When buying, read the current label if an ingredient or allergen matters to you or a fellow traveller.
How should I take an opened pack of digestive biscuits in the car?
Keep the biscuits dry and seal the pack securely after opening, or use a sealable container. This is in line with the storage advice for the Albert Heijn and McVitie's digestive biscuits mentioned here.
Are Lotus Biscoff biscuits digestives?
No. Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff Original as speculoos. Choose it if you like that flavour, but don’t treat it as the same type of biscuit when comparing plain digestives.