When choosing a digestive biscuit for your morning break, start with what matters most to you: classic flavour, ingredients, less sugar or a chocolate option. Compare the nutritional information for plain and wholemeal varieties per 100 g and per biscuit; words such as ‘wholemeal’ or ‘digestive’ don’t tell the whole story. The Dutch Government says Nutri-Score can help you compare similar products, but it doesn’t replace the Dutch dietary guidelines.
If you like to have a biscuit with coffee or tea, you can compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat, salt and portion size. Only compare Nutri-Scores for similar products, as the Dutch Government advises; a score alone doesn’t mean a biscuit is healthy.
When choosing a lower-sugar digestive, it’s also worth checking which sweeteners are used, the nutritional information per serving and any warnings on the pack.
If flavour and texture matter most to you, plain and chocolate varieties offer different options. When choosing one with a coating, compare more than just the taste: check the nutritional information and allergens too.
First decide whether ingredients, sugar, allergens or flavour are your main priority. Then compare only the varieties that meet that requirement, using the same quantity.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and fibre | Compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g; also check the amount per biscuit. | If I have a biscuit regularly during my morning break, I want to judge plain and wholemeal varieties on more than their names. Around 33% of consumers put the ingredients first. |
| Sugar and sweeteners | Check the sugar content, ingredients and warnings; compare energy per 100 g and per serving too. | I’m looking for a lower-sugar option, but I want to know which sweeteners I’m choosing. For around 27% of consumers, sugar is the most important factor. |
| Allergens and dietary suitability | Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current pack. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the label comes before flavour or nutritional values. For around 20% of consumers, suitability is the first requirement. |
| Flavour and snack portion | Choose between plain and chocolate, and check how much one biscuit weighs according to the pack. | With coffee or tea, I mainly want a flavour that suits the moment, without losing sight of the portion size. Flavour and portion size come first for around 20% of consumers. |
A product name doesn’t tell you what a biscuit does for your health. ‘Wholemeal’ on its own also doesn’t give you a complete picture of its nutritional value.
Read the ingredients and nutritional information. If the pack displays a Nutri-Score, use it only to compare similar products.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains sweeteners; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as sugars, compare the energy per serving and check which sweeteners and warnings are listed on the pack.
McVitie's Netherlands lists 27.6 g of sugars and 12.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g for Digestive Dark Chocolate, compared with 16.5 g and 10.1 g for Digestive Original.
Compare the two varieties per 100 g and check the weight of each biscuit before comparing portions.
A product name or picture doesn’t give you a complete list of ingredients. Recipes and label information can also change.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you buy, including any ‘may contain’ statement.
These brands offer different types and flavours of biscuits. The nutritional information listed applies to the specific varieties, not all their products.
Original is a classic digestive; Dark Chocolate adds a layer of dark chocolate.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is an option to compare with regular digestives if sugar is your main consideration.
Jumbo Digestive Wholemeal is a wholemeal variety whose ingredients you can compare with those of other digestives.
ALDI's Biscotto Digestive Biscuits are wheat biscuits for anyone looking for a classic digestive.
Lotus Biscoff is a caramelised biscuit to enjoy with coffee, not a digestive variety.
These products include a classic digestive and two chocolate varieties. For your morning break, first choose the flavour you’re looking for, then check the portion size and label on the pack you’ve chosen.
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For anyone who enjoys a digestive with milk chocolate during their morning break; the pack contains 266 g.
According to the product description, this variety contains milk, soya, wheat and gluten. Check the allergens and portion size on the current pack.
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For anyone looking for a classic digestive without a chocolate coating; the pack contains 400 g.
The product description lists wheat and gluten and says that milk may be present. Check the current label for allergens, portion size and nutritional information before comparing this variety.
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For anyone who enjoys a digestive with dark chocolate; the pack contains 266 g.
According to the product description, this variety contains wheat, gluten, milk and soya. Check the current label to compare nutritional information, portion size and allergens.
No, the name doesn’t tell you that. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 74 kcal, 2.6 g of sugars and 1.5 g of saturated fat, among other values, for an average 15 g digestive. Check the values and portion size for the specific product you choose.
First compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat, salt and energy per 100 g, then per biscuit. Check the ingredients too: ‘wholemeal’ on its own doesn’t tell you how much of these nutrients a biscuit contains.
Not necessarily. Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 465 kcal per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% sugar. This variety contains polyols and carries a warning about excessive consumption.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, not just the front. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, relevant allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients. Check for any ‘may contain’ statement too.
Seal the pack well and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For its Digestive Wholemeal, Jumbo recommends using an airtight biscuit tin or resealing the pack securely after opening.
