If you’re managing your weight, don’t choose a biscuit just because it’s called a ‘digestive’. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and decide how many biscuits you’ll actually eat. A 0% sugar option may contain less sugar without providing much less energy. Gluten-free is a separate selection criterion, while speculoos is not a digestive biscuit.
You’d like the occasional biscuit with a cup of tea or coffee and pay attention to how much you actually eat. The energy per biscuit can help you decide on a portion; when comparing products, you should also look at the values per 100 g.
You’re looking for an option with less sugar, but don’t want to mistake a ‘0% sugar’ claim for a low-calorie product. Compare the energy, fibre and any polyols too.
For you, the product’s suitability comes first. Check the current gluten-free claim and allergen information, then assess the nutritional values separately.
Start by comparing digestives per 100 g, then consider the portion you want to eat. If you need to avoid gluten or other allergens, check that the product is suitable for you before comparing its nutritional values.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and portion size | Compare kcal per 100 g and check how many grams or biscuits are included in the stated portion. | If you want to decide in advance how many biscuits fit into an eating occasion, the energy in the portion you’ll actually eat is particularly useful. For around 50% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Check sugars, energy and fibre per 100 g. For a 0% sugar option, also check the polyols and any usage warning. | If reducing sugar is the main reason for switching biscuits, the claim on the front of the pack shouldn’t take the place of comparing energy. This is the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the current gluten-free claim and allergen information on the packaging. | If you need to avoid gluten or a particular ingredient, you’ll want to know first whether the biscuit is suitable. For around 20% of consumers, suitability is the primary consideration when choosing. |
Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker, compared with 485 kcal per 100 g for regular AH Digestive. The difference in sugar content is greater than the difference in energy.
Compare both values per 100 g, then consider the portion you plan to eat. For the 0% sugar option, also check the warning about excessive consumption of polyols.
The product name doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fibre, saturated fat or salt a biscuit contains. A claim about fibre doesn’t replace the rest of the nutrition table either.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g. Check the values that matter for your choice.
Jumbo lists 494 kcal and 32.7 g of sugars per 100 g for the gluten-free milk chocolate digestive reviewed here. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t describe its energy or sugar content.
First check whether a gluten-free option is necessary and suitable for you, then compare its nutritional values with other products you can eat.
The ingredients and nutritional values of a packaged biscuit can change. This is especially important if you need to avoid an allergen.
Before eating it, check the current packaging, including the ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and portion size.
This own-brand range includes regular AH Digestive and AH Digestive 0% suiker for comparison.
The products reviewed are a regular crunchy digestive and a separate gluten-free digestive with milk chocolate.
McVitie's Digestives Original is a classic digestive that you can compare with other options on the same basis.
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos is an alternative biscuit, not a digestive.
ALDI lists Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.
No. The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t in itself tell you whether a biscuit suits your eating pattern. Check the nutritional values and how much you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends focusing on your overall diet when managing your weight.
Not necessarily. Albert Heijn lists 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker and 485 kcal per 100 g for regular AH Digestive. The 0% sugar option also contains polyols, so read the warning on the packaging.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the weight of the portion you want to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g; for your own portion, the energy per biscuit or serving matters too.
Don’t assume a regular digestive is suitable. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a clear gluten-free claim. Gluten-free doesn’t mean a product is free from other allergens.
The current packaging is important because ingredients and nutritional values can change. If you need to avoid an ingredient, be sure to check the allergen information again. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that allergens must be clearly shown on the label.
