Anyone serving biscuits to a small group
You’re looking for a classic digestive you can serve straight away. Check the pack size and serving size to work out how many packs you’ll need.
Who are these options for?
Anyone comparing nutritional information
You want to compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt across similar digestive biscuits, rather than relying on the front of the pack alone.
Anyone catering for guests’ dietary needs
If gluten or other allergens are a concern, you’ll need information about the exact product. The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t tell you anything about this.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check whether any guests need to avoid gluten or other allergens. Then compare the pack size of suitable options and, if nutritional values matter to you, the nutrition information per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing with coffee | Check the pack size and serving size to work out how many packs you’ll need. | If I’m serving biscuits to several friends, I want to have enough without lots left over. Around 40% of consumers put sharing first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g across similar digestive biscuits. | I want to be able to weigh up a wholemeal option without assuming that the word ‘wholemeal’ tells me everything about its nutritional value. This comparison matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the current pack for a gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information relevant to your guests. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, choosing a suitable product comes before my preference for a particular variety. This check is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| A treat | For a chocolate version, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g. | For this coffee get-together, I’d rather serve a chocolate biscuit than a plain digestive. Around 10% of consumers prioritise that little treat. |
Common mistakes
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Taking the name ‘digestive’ as a health claim
The product name alone doesn’t tell you anything about its effect on digestion.
Treat ‘digestive’ as a product name, and check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack when making your choice.
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Confusing gluten-free with allergen-free
The Schär Digestive Landtaler described by Jumbo is gluten-free, but contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guest, then check the information on the exact pack.
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Serving a chocolate version instead of a classic digestive without checking first
The McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate described by Jumbo contains milk, soya and wheat. So the chocolate version has different ingredients to take into account.
Choose this version as a treat, and check that it suits your guests’ needs.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The own-label range includes classic, wholemeal and 0% sugar digestive biscuits.
- According to Albert Heijn, the wholemeal variety reviewed contains 37% wholemeal wheat flour and 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The classic and wholemeal varieties reviewed contain wheat. The 0% sugar variety contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Jumbo
The own-label range includes, among other options, a classic and a wholemeal digestive.
- The classic variety described comes in a 400 g pack; the wholemeal variety lists wholemeal wheat flour, wheat flour and wheat flakes.
- The varieties described contain wheat. Check the label if your guest needs to avoid gluten.
McVitie's
Original is a classic digestive, while the milk chocolate version is another option for a treat.
- The Original described by Jumbo is a 400 g wheat biscuit containing 16% wholemeal wheat flour.
- Original contains wheat and may contain milk. The milk chocolate version described contains milk, soya and wheat.
Schär
Digestive Landtaler is an option to consider if you need a digestive explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- Jumbo describes this variety as gluten-free.
- The variety described contains soya and may contain lupin and egg; in this case, gluten-free doesn’t mean allergen-free.
Digestive biscuits on Joybuy
If you want to serve a classic digestive with coffee, this Original variety comes in a 400 g pack. If you’re catering for dietary needs, always check the current label.
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McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g
A classic digestive to serve with coffee and friends.
According to Jumbo’s product information, this Original variety contains 16% wholemeal wheat flour and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g. It contains wheat and may contain milk; if you have allergies, check the current label.
Frequently asked questions
Are digestive biscuits good for digestion?
The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t prove that a biscuit has any effect on digestion. Choose a biscuit based on the product information that matters for your purchase, not on an assumed benefit.
How do I compare the nutritional value of two digestive biscuits?
Compare similar products per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the label. Look at factors such as fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt, and bear in mind that serving sizes can vary.
Is a wholemeal digestive gluten-free too?
No, not necessarily: the wholemeal digestive biscuits described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain wheat. If a guest needs to eat gluten-free, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current label for other relevant allergens too.
Which allergens should I look out for when buying for guests?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for each exact product you plan to serve. The varieties described include ingredients such as wheat, milk and soya; the gluten-free Schär variety contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
How should I store an opened pack of digestive biscuits?
Follow the storage advice on the pack and seal it well after opening. The product information described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo recommends storing the biscuits in a dry place and keeping them in a well-sealed pack or tin.