Who are these options for?

For coffee, tea or dessert

You’re looking for a classic, crunchy biscuit to enjoy with a drink or use as a dessert base. In that case, taste and texture are what count.

For comparing wholemeal content and nutritional values

You check the stated proportion of wholemeal wheat flour and compare fibre, sugars, fat and salt across the same quantity of biscuits.

For gluten-free or allergy-related needs

You need a product explicitly labelled gluten-free or have to avoid other allergens. That’s why you should read the full ingredients and allergen information, rather than relying on the word ‘digestive’ alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with your main reason for buying digestive biscuits. Then check the packaging to see whether the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details match what you’re looking for.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Classic biscuit Check whether the product is described as a digestive biscuit, and check the ingredients and allergen information. With coffee or tea, I want a familiar wheat biscuit, or one I can use as the base for a dessert. For around 31% of consumers, that classic use comes first.
Wholemeal and fibre Compare the stated proportion of wholemeal wheat flour and the fibre per 100 g; check the rest of the nutritional information too. If I want to compare wholemeal content and fibre, specific figures are more useful than the product name alone. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this comparison.
Added sugar Read the ingredients, the stated sugar content and any information about polyols or warnings. I mainly want to keep an eye on added sugar, but I also want to know which sweeteners a product contains. For around 23% of consumers, this is the top priority.
Gluten and allergens Look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the full allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statements. If I need to avoid gluten, I can’t simply choose an ordinary wheat digestive; other allergens matter too. For around 15% of consumers, this check comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘digestive’ is a nutritional assessment

    Digestive biscuits can vary in sugar, fat, salt, fibre and wholemeal content. The name doesn’t tell you how those values compare.

    Compare products per 100 g and, if serving sizes differ, per serving too. Check the rest of the nutritional information as well as the fibre content.

  • Confusing ‘0% sugar’ with a product containing no sweeteners

    AH Digestive 0% sugar contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients, nutritional information and warning on the packaging before choosing this option.

  • Choosing an ordinary wheat digestive when you need to avoid gluten

    The classic and wholemeal wheat options listed here are not interchangeable with a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free. A gluten-free option may also contain other allergens.

    Check the gluten-free label and the full allergen information for the specific product.

  • Relying on the product name or pack size alone

    A shop listing for a pack of digestive biscuits doesn’t tell you which ingredients, allergens and nutritional values matter for your choice.

    Check the current label if sugar, fibre or allergens, for example, are key factors.

Brands and product ranges compared

McVitie's

The Original option is a classic wheat digestive for coffee or tea, and can also be used as a dessert base.

  • The pack listed contains 400 g; the product states that it contains 16% wholemeal wheat flour.
  • Original contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk. Check the label to compare sugar and fat too.

Albert Heijn

AH offers separate Digestive, Wholemeal and 0% sugar options, which you can compare based on their individual ingredients and nutritional information.

  • AH Digestive is listed as vegan and lactose-free. AH Wholemeal Digestive states that it contains 37% wholemeal wheat flour and 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • AH Digestive 0% sugar contains polyols and carries a warning about excessive consumption. Check for wheat and other allergens in each option too.

Jumbo

Jumbo Wholemeal Digestive is a wheat option with stated wholemeal content and nutritional values.

  • The product information states that it contains 37.3% wholemeal wheat flour and 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • This option contains wheat and gluten and may contain barley, oats and rye. Compare the other nutritional values too.

Schär

Digestive Landtaler is a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free for anyone who needs that product feature.

  • The pack listed contains 3 × 50 g.
  • The product contains soya and may contain lupin and eggs; gluten-free does not mean free from other allergens.

Sondey / Lidl

Lidl lists a 400 g pack of plain digestive biscuits as one of its products.

  • The pack size gives you a useful starting point for comparison.
  • If allergens or nutritional values are important to your choice, check the packaging label before buying.

Biscotto / ALDI

ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as crunchy wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.

  • The product description states that each pack contains around 27 biscuits.
  • If you’re choosing based on allergens or nutritional values, check the information on the current packaging.

Lotus Biscoff

According to Lotus Bakeries, Biscoff is a crunchy, caramelised biscuit to enjoy with coffee. It’s an alternative for a different flavour, not a digestive option.

  • A good choice if you’re mainly looking for a caramelised biscuit to enjoy with coffee.
  • Don’t treat Biscoff as interchangeable with a digestive if recipe, fibre or allergen details affect your choice.

Digestive biscuits for a classic coffee break

If you’re looking for a classic digestive to enjoy with coffee or tea, there’s an Original option in a 400 g pack below. Check the packaging if nutritional values or allergens will affect your choice.

McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g pack

McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g

A classic digestive to enjoy with coffee or tea, also suggested as a biscuit for a cheesecake base.

Pack size: 400 g. The Original option contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk; check the nutritional information if sugar or fat is important to your choice.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are digestive biscuits always gluten-free?

No. The McVitie's Original and wholemeal wheat-based options mentioned here are not gluten-free. If you need a gluten-free product, look for one explicitly labelled as such and check for other allergens too.

Is the front of the pack enough to check for allergens?

No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens in pre-packed foods are listed in the ingredients and must be clearly identifiable. Check the product for any ‘may contain’ statements too.

Is AH Digestive 0% sugar also free from sweeteners?

No. This option contains polyols and states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. So, as well as the product name, read the ingredients, warning and nutritional information.

How can I keep digestive biscuits crunchy after opening?

Seal the pack tightly after opening and store the biscuits in a dry place. McVitie's recommends keeping Original in a dry, preferably cool place; Jumbo also advises storing its wholemeal option in a dark place.