Hosts looking for biscuits to share
Whether you’re serving coffee, tea or a biscuit platter to visitors, the main thing is how many biscuits you’ll need. A standard digestive is a good starting point if there are no specific dietary requirements.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Shoppers with a dietary priority
If you’re keeping an eye on fibre, sugars, gluten or other allergens, compare the ingredients and nutritional information for each product. The terms ‘wholemeal’ and ‘0%’ don’t tell the whole story.
Shoppers putting together a varied biscuit platter
A digestive can be served alongside another type of biscuit. Lotus Biscoff, for example, is speculoos, not a digestive, so consider it as an accompaniment rather than another variety of the same biscuit.
What should you look for when choosing?
Before you shop for New Year, decide what matters most to you: having enough biscuits to share, fibre, the ingredients in a 0% variety or allergens. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information of products that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Enough to share | Compare the pack sizes and work out how many packs you’ll need for your guests. | When I’m having coffee or tea with visitors, I want to know how many biscuits I can put out. Having enough is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Compare the amount of fibre and sugars per 100 g, and check which ingredients are used in the wholemeal variety. | When choosing a wholemeal biscuit, I focus on its ingredients without assuming it contains less sugar. Fibre or wholemeal content is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Check the sugars per 100 g, the ingredients and any warnings for a 0% variety. | If I’m keeping an eye on added sugars, I also want to know what the biscuit is sweetened with. This is the main thing around 17% of consumers look for when buying. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the full allergen information on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid gluten or take other allergens into account, the label determines my choice. Around 8% of consumers put allergen checks first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming wholemeal means less sugar
The Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal digestives reviewed still contain sugars. ‘Wholemeal’ doesn’t automatically tell you how much sugar a biscuit contains.
Compare fibre and sugars separately per 100 g before choosing between standard and wholemeal varieties.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
According to the product information, Schär Digestive gluten-free biscuits contain soya and may contain eggs and lupin. A gluten-free label therefore doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
When buying, check the full allergen information on the packaging and work out how many packs you need.
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Relying on the 0% label alone
The AH Digestive 0% sugar biscuits reviewed contain maltitols and isomalt. Albert Heijn also states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients and warning on the packaging rather than relying on the label on the front.
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Assuming a previous product listing guarantees availability in December
Ranges and product ingredients can change. Albert Heijn itself notes that product information may change.
Check the latest product information shortly before your New Year shopping, and always read the packaging for allergen information.
Brands and ranges to consider
These brands and retailers’ ranges offer different types of biscuits to compare. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean that a specific product is available on Joybuy.
Albert Heijn
Its own range includes standard, wholemeal and 0% digestives.
- The product information makes it possible to compare ingredients, nutritional values and allergens across these varieties.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information may change; if you have allergies, check the current packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own standard and wholemeal digestives in 400 g packs, as well as McVitie's.
- The same pack size makes it easier to compare the standard and wholemeal own-brand varieties.
- Even with the wholemeal variety, check fibre and sugars separately on the label.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is speculoos with a caramelised flavour, offering a different type of biscuit to serve alongside digestives.
- A distinct flavour choice if you want to serve more than one type of biscuit.
- Speculoos isn’t a digestive, so don’t compare the two as if they were varieties of the same biscuit.
Sondey (Lidl)
Sondey is a Lidl range of biscuits and cookies. Lidl also lists a product called Digestives naturel.
- A retailer’s range to explore if you’d like to add other biscuits to your platter.
- For a specific digestive, check the ingredients, allergens and pack size on the current packaging.
Biscotto (ALDI)
ALDI lists Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits, including a 400 g pack.
- The listed pack size is useful when planning how much you’ll need for a platter to share.
- Before comparing this product with another digestive, read the full nutritional information and allergen statement on the label.
Digestive biscuits on Joybuy
This selection includes a standard 400 g digestive and two chocolate digestive varieties in 266 g packs. Choose the standard variety if you want to serve a classic biscuit, or consider chocolate if you’d like to add another flavour to your platter.
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McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g
A standard digestive for sharing with coffee or tea. The pack contains 400 g; if you have any allergen requirements, check the current packaging.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate 266 g
For anyone who’d like to serve a milk chocolate variety alongside standard digestives. The pack contains 266 g; choose the number of packs to suit your guests and check the allergen information.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate 266 g
For a biscuit platter that also includes digestives with dark chocolate. The pack contains 266 g; check how many you’ll need and read the allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are standard digestive biscuits gluten-free?
No, the standard digestives reviewed contain wheat or gluten. If you need to avoid gluten, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergens on the packaging too; the Schär Digestive reviewed, for example, contains soya and may contain eggs and lupin.
Does a wholemeal digestive automatically contain less sugar?
No. For the Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal varieties reviewed, compare the fibre content and amount of sugars separately. Use the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging.
Does ‘0% sugar’ mean a digestive contains no sweeteners?
No. The AH Digestive 0% sugar biscuits reviewed contain maltitols and isomalt. Albert Heijn warns in the product information that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, so check the ingredients and warning on the packaging.
How should I store an opened pack of digestives until New Year?
Seal the pack tightly after opening or put the biscuits in an airtight tin. For the digestives reviewed, Albert Heijn and Jumbo recommend storing them in a cool, dark and dry place.
Where can I check allergens before serving biscuits?
Check the current packaging of every biscuit you plan to serve. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label. Also check for statements about the possible presence of other allergens if they’re relevant to your guests.