Walkers who want to take a portion with them
You’re looking for a dry biscuit to enjoy during a walking break and don’t need to avoid gluten. Check how much one biscuit weighs and how to seal the rest of the pack after opening.
Who are these biscuits for?
Walkers comparing fibre content
You want to compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g across digestive biscuits. Include sugars, fat and your portion size in the comparison too.
Walkers who need to avoid gluten
You need a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free. Also check the latest information about other allergens and any warnings on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that the biscuit suits your allergen restrictions. Then compare the nutritional information and the portion you want to take with you.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion for a walking break | Check the serving size per biscuit and compare the nutritional values per serving with those per 100 g. | I want to be able to portion out a few biscuits to take with me without relying on the pack weight alone. A manageable portion is a priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Fibre and wholemeal ingredients | Compare fibre per 100 g and check which grain ingredients have been used; look at the sugars and salt too. | If fibre is my main point of comparison, I want to see what the label says beyond the word ‘wholemeal’. That’s a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the latest ingredients list, the gluten-free label and any ‘may contain’ warnings. | I need to avoid gluten and want to know whether a biscuit also contains other relevant allergens. For around 22% of consumers, checking this is the first requirement. |
Common mistakes
-
Looking only for ‘wholemeal’
The name doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value. Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre and 19.3 g of sugars per 100 g for its Digestive Volkoren.
Compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g. Then consider how many biscuits you’ll actually take with you.
-
Assuming every digestive is gluten-free
The standard and wholemeal varieties reviewed contain wheat. Schär Digestive Landtaler, which is labelled gluten-free, contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
If you need a gluten-free biscuit, choose one that’s explicitly labelled as such and check the other allergen information on the current pack too.
-
Putting an opened pack loose in your rucksack
The storage instructions for the biscuits reviewed say to keep them in a dry place and, where specified, to seal the pack securely after opening.
Take the portion you’ve planned in a dry, resealable container.
-
Comparing a chocolate variety with a plain biscuit
Jumbo lists 27.0 g of sugars and 12.9 g of saturated fat per 100 g for the McVitie's Digestive with white chocolate reviewed.
Compare a chocolate-coated variety separately, looking at its ingredients, nutritional values and portion size.
Brands compared
McVitie's
Digestives Original is a standard wheat biscuit sold in a 400 g pack.
- Jumbo lists one biscuit as a serving and provides nutritional values per 100 g.
- This variety contains wheat and may contain milk.
Jumbo
Digestive Volkoren 400 g is an option for comparing ingredients and fibre across the category.
- The product information lists wholemeal wheat flour and 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The biscuit contains wheat and gluten; compare the other nutritional values too.
Schär
Digestive Landtaler is a biscuit labelled gluten-free, sold in packs of 3 × 50 g.
- The product information lists 7.4 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This variety contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has product pages for regular and wholemeal digestive biscuits.
- The product pages offer a starting point for comparing varieties.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Biscotto
This ALDI own-brand lists Digestive Biscuits in a pack of around 400 g containing around 27 biscuits.
- The stated number of biscuits helps you plan portions.
- For a comparison, check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack you buy.
A digestive for a regular walking break
This standard digestive is a good fit if you want to take a portion of biscuits with you and aren’t looking for a gluten-free variety. Check the packaging before you set off, and take any opened biscuits with you in a dry, well-sealed container.
Image unavailable
McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A standard digestive for a measured portion during a walking break, if you don’t need to avoid gluten.
For the Original variety reviewed, Jumbo lists an average weight of 14.7 g and 71 kcal per biscuit, and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
This variety contains wheat and may contain milk. Check the current packaging if allergens are important to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Which nutritional information should I compare for digestive biscuits?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and, if listed, per biscuit or serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the ingredients and nutrition table too, rather than relying only on the front of the pack.
How can I keep biscuits dry during a walk?
Take the portion you plan to eat in a dry, resealable container. The storage advice for the products reviewed is to keep them in a dry place; Jumbo also advises sealing its Digestive Volkoren securely after opening.
Where can I check for gluten and other allergens?
Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients list. A gluten-free label doesn’t mean a biscuit is free from other allergens: Schär Digestive Landtaler, for example, contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
Can I rely on the nutritional values in a supermarket app?
Use the app to compare products in advance, but check the pack you buy as well. Albert Heijn says that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.