Choose taaitaai if the pupil would like an aniseed-flavoured biscuit and the allergens on the packet fit the arrangements in place for the pupil and school. Choose a plain digestive if they prefer a wheat biscuit. If gluten needs to be avoided, look for a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too. The name ‘digestive’ is no proof that it aids digestion.
For parents and carers who check the label against the arrangements in place for the pupil and school before packing lunch. PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk among the allergens in its mini taaitaai; ordinary digestive biscuits can also contain cereals containing gluten.
For anyone who prefers the aniseed flavour of taaitaai. ALDI Netherlands describes its taaitaai as aniseed-flavoured biscuits in shaped figures. Even so, check the allergens on the packet you choose and how many biscuits you plan to pack.
For anyone comparing plain or wholemeal biscuits by ingredients, portion size and nutritional value. Jumbo lists the fibre content per 100 g for its Digestive Wholemeal; also check the sugars and fats on the label of the product you choose.
First, check whether allergens and school arrangements limit your choice. Then compare the type of biscuit you want with the amount you’ll actually pack for lunch.
Choose it when: the pupil specifically wants an aniseed-flavoured biscuit.
Bear in mind: Jumbo lists wheat, rye and milk for its Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes.
Choose it when: a wheat biscuit better suits the pupil’s preference.
Bear in mind: Jumbo lists wheat in McVitie’s Digestives Original, so it isn’t a gluten-free option.
Choose it when: you need a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free.
Bear in mind: even with a gluten-free product, check the exact packet for other allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school arrangements | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on the exact packet, and check them against the arrangements in place for the pupil and school. | When I’m packing for a pupil with an allergen plan, I want to know whether this particular biscuit can go in their lunchbox. An estimated 33% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Compare the planned portion and the nutritional information for sugars, fats and fibre per 100 g and, where listed, per portion. | For an ordinary school day, I want to decide how many biscuits to pack without relying on the product name alone. This is estimated to be the first consideration for 25% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Choose between aniseed-flavoured taaitaai and a digestive biscuit; if you opt for digestives, consider which variety to buy. | If the pupil enjoys one type of biscuit but not the other, that preference matters to me. An estimated 25% of consumers put flavour and texture first. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size and whether the item you’ve chosen is available when you shop. | If I only need a few biscuits, I don’t want to choose a pack that doesn’t suit how they’ll be used. An estimated 17% of consumers put this practical consideration first. |
Taaitaai can contain other allergens too. Alongside wheat and rye, PLUS lists milk in its mini taaitaai, and the product carries warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Check both the ingredients and the ‘may contain’ information on the packet you’ll be sending to school.
A product name is neither a nutrition label nor proof that it aids digestion. For McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo explicitly states that the ingredients in the biscuit contain no substances that aid digestion.
Compare the nutritional information and allergens for the variety you’ve chosen, then decide how many to pack.
A taaitaai product that was previously listed on a shop’s website may not be available when you come to buy it. This is particularly relevant if you’re looking for a specific variety.
Check the shop’s current range before planning lunch around a particular product.
If the item isn’t available, finding a suitable alternative could mean an extra trip to the shop.
Albert Heijn lists an AH Digestive and has a product page for Bolletje taaitaai. This makes it a useful shop for comparing the two types of biscuit.
Jumbo lists taaitaai and several digestive products, including a Schär variety explicitly labelled gluten-free.
Lidl is an option where you’ll need to check the information for the food product you choose on its packaging.
ALDI Netherlands lists aniseed-flavoured taai-taai in shaped figures, in a 500 g pack.
PLUS lists mini taaitaai in a 500 g bag, with allergen information provided for the product.
Dirk lists 500 g packs of mini taaitaai in its product search results.
This biscuit suits anyone choosing a plain digestive instead of taaitaai. Before packing it for a school lunch, check the label on the packet delivered and the arrangements in place for the pupil and school.
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For anyone who wants to pack a plain digestive biscuit instead of taaitaai.
Pack size: 400 g.
Before packing, check the allergens on the packet and the school arrangements.
Don’t assume it is. Albert Heijn lists wheat and rye in Bolletje taaitaai, while Jumbo names cereals containing gluten in its Sint Taai Taai Figuurtjes. If gluten needs to be avoided, check whether the exact product is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
Check the label on the packet you’re actually packing too. That way, you can compare the ingredients and warnings on that product with the arrangements in place for the pupil and school.
You can’t tell from the name ‘digestive’. For McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo explicitly states that the ingredients in the biscuit contain no substances that aid digestion.
Check the packaging label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that the 14 designated allergens must be listed on the labels of packaged foods. Before making your choice, also read any ‘may contain’ warnings.
