Choose a digestive biscuit by comparing the current ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack with what you need to avoid, rather than relying on words such as ‘digestive’, ‘vegan’ or ‘gluten-free’. The standard versions from Jumbo and Albert Heijn contain wheat, while the gluten-free versions mentioned from Schär and Jumbo list other relevant allergens.
You’re looking for a digestive biscuit without ingredients you need to avoid. If you’re considering a gluten-free version, check separately for wheat and other allergens too. For example, Jumbo lists soya for Schär Digestive Landtaler.
A label such as ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you everything about milk, soya or other allergens. Compare the full ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements with your own list of foods to avoid.
If wheat isn’t a concern for you, a classic version may be suitable. Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive as lactose-free and vegan, but also lists wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour as ingredients.
Start with the allergen you need to avoid. Then check the other ingredients and warnings on the pack of the version you want to buy.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat and gluten | Read the ingredients and allergen information. If you need to avoid gluten, check for an explicit gluten-free label; if you have a wheat allergy, look for wheat in the ingredients too. | If I need to avoid wheat or gluten, a standard wheat digestive is out, so I look for a version whose label matches my list of foods to avoid. Avoiding wheat or gluten is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Compare all listed ingredients, allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings with your list of foods to avoid, including on gluten-free versions. | If I need to avoid more than one allergen, I can’t rely on a single claim: the gluten-free versions mentioned list soya or milk, among other things. Checking for several allergens is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| A specific restriction | Check what a claim such as ‘lactose-free’ or ‘vegan’ means for that particular biscuit, and read the allergen information as well. | If I want to avoid lactose but can eat wheat, I want to know whether a classic digestive meets that one requirement. Keeping a standard version as an option matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
Jumbo Digestive lists gluten and wheat; AH Digestive contains wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour. The product name alone doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable if you need to avoid wheat or gluten.
Check the label for wheat and gluten before choosing between standard versions.
For Schär Digestive Landtaler, Jumbo lists soya and possible traces of lupin and egg. Jumbo’s gluten-free milk chocolate digestives list milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts.
Even with a gluten-free biscuit, read the full allergen information and any warnings about possible traces.
The Food Allergy Foundation advises checking the entire ingredients list of every product each time you buy it.
Before eating it, read the label on the pack you’ve actually bought, even if you know the brand.
A shop page listing a digestive biscuit doesn’t, by itself, confirm all the allergens on the pack in store.
For Lidl Digestives naturel and ALDI Biscotto Digestive Biscuits, check the current packaging before deciding whether they fit your list of foods to avoid.
Jumbo lists both a standard wheat digestive and gluten-free digestive options with different allergen profiles.
Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free.
Lotus Biscoff is a caramelised biscuit, not the same type of product as a digestive biscuit.
Lidl lists Digestives naturel in a 400 g pack.
ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.
The standard digestives from Jumbo and Albert Heijn mentioned here aren’t: they contain wheat. Jumbo also lists gluten and possible traces of barley, oats and rye for its standard version. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a biscuit with an explicit gluten-free label and check the current packaging.
No. According to Jumbo’s product information, Schär Digestive Landtaler contains soya and may contain lupin and egg; Jumbo’s gluten-free milk chocolate version contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts. Compare all the information with your own list of foods to avoid.
Yes. Albert Heijn describes AH Digestive as lactose-free, but lists wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour as ingredients. So if you need to avoid wheat, check a lactose-free version separately for wheat.
Yes. The Food Allergy Foundation advises checking the full ingredients list of every product each time you buy it. Use the label on the pack you’re buying now, not just an earlier pack or an online description.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, including any warnings about possible traces.
