Choose a wholemeal digestive if the amount of wholemeal flour and fibre content are your main considerations for an afternoon snack. A classic or chocolate variety may suit a particular taste preference better. For a 0% sugar variety, compare the sweeteners and nutritional information too. If you need to avoid gluten, check for an explicit gluten-free label as well as the other allergen information.
If you want a digestive to enjoy with coffee or tea, you can compare the amount of wholemeal flour, fibre per 100 g and serving size. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that these values vary between varieties.
If added sugars, sweeteners, gluten or other allergens influence your choice, the word ‘digestive’ alone tells you very little. Read the nutritional information and the latest allergen information for the specific pack.
If you mainly want a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea, a standard digestive, a chocolate variety and speculoos offer different flavours. Compare their ingredients and nutritional information separately if those matter to you too.
First decide which feature matters most for your afternoon snack. Then check the rest of the information on the label, as terms such as ‘wholemeal’ or ‘0% sugar’ do not answer every question about a product.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Compare the amount of wholemeal flour and fibre per 100 g; also check the rest of the nutritional information. | For my usual afternoon snack, I want to know how much wholemeal flour and fibre the biscuit contains, rather than judging it by its name alone. Around 31% of consumers say this is their main priority. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and storage instructions once opened, especially for a larger pack. | If I don’t eat biscuits often, I want to choose an amount I expect to finish. This is the most important consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Sugar and sweeteners | Read the sugar and energy content per 100 g and per serving, the ingredients, and any sweetener warnings. | A label such as ‘0% sugar’ catches my eye, but I also want to know which sweeteners it contains and what the nutritional information says. Around 23% of consumers make these checks their top priority. |
| Gluten and allergens | If needed, check for a gluten-free label, as well as the full allergen information and any ‘may contain’ wording. | I need to be able to check whether the biscuit I choose meets my need to avoid gluten or another allergen. This is the main consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
The wholemeal digestives from Albert Heijn and Jumbo included in this comparison contain wheat. A wholemeal flour label also doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains.
Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for the variety you want to buy.
Albert Heijn lists sweeteners for AH Digestive 0% suiker and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The front-of-pack label does not give you the full nutritional picture.
Compare the energy content, ingredients and warnings on the pack too.
The Schär Digestive Landtaler described by Jumbo is gluten-free, but contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
Check the full, up-to-date allergen information on every pack, even when ‘gluten-free’ is clearly displayed on the front.
A large pack is most practical if you can store the biscuits after opening and expect to use them all.
Compare the net weight with how often you eat biscuits, and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
The own-brand range includes both a wholemeal digestive and a 0% sugar variety in the product information reviewed.
The Jumbo Digestive Volkoren reviewed is an option for comparing the amount of wholemeal flour on the label.
The range described includes a classic Original digestive and chocolate varieties.
Verkade Digestive Original is a classic wheat biscuit that can serve as a point of comparison for ingredients.
The Digestive Landtaler described is a gluten-free variety for shoppers specifically looking for that label.
Lotus Biscoff is a speculoos biscuit for anyone mainly looking for that flavour with coffee or tea, rather than a type of digestive biscuit.
These Joybuy products are McVitie's digestives for anyone looking for a classic biscuit or a milk or dark chocolate variety for an afternoon snack. Compare the packaging and check the allergens for the variety you choose; this selection does not include the wholemeal, 0% sugar or gluten-free options discussed above.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a classic digestive without a chocolate coating for your afternoon snack.
400 g pack. The product information lists wheat and gluten, and says it may contain milk; check the latest packaging if allergens are important to you.
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For anyone looking for a digestive with a milk chocolate coating.
266 g pack. The product information lists wheat, gluten, milk and soya; check the latest allergen information on the packaging.
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For anyone looking for a digestive with a dark chocolate coating rather than the Original or milk chocolate variety.
266 g pack. The product information lists wheat, gluten, milk and soya; check the latest allergen information on the packaging.
The name alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour, fibre or sugar a biscuit contains. Voedingscentrum advises shoppers not to rely only on front-of-pack labels; compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific variety.
Check that the biscuit you choose is explicitly labelled gluten-free, then read the full, up-to-date allergen information. The Schär Digestive Landtaler described by Jumbo is gluten-free, but contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
No, the ‘0% sugar’ label doesn’t mean that it does. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 465 kcal per 100 g and sweeteners; check the nutritional information and warning on the pack when comparing this variety.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. For the digestives described, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a sealed tin after opening; Jumbo advises resealing the wholemeal variety carefully after opening.
