Road-trippers looking for a classic biscuit to share
A pack for several snack stops is ideal if you’re after a plain, crunchy digestive and don’t need a gluten-free variety. Albert Heijn and Jumbo sell plain digestives in 400 g packs.
Who are the different varieties for?
Road-trippers keeping an eye on fibre
If you’re comparing plain and wholemeal digestives, check the fibre per 100 g and the ingredients list. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s wholemeal varieties list 6 g and 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g respectively.
Road-trippers who need to avoid gluten
A standard wheat biscuit won’t be suitable. Look for a digestive-style biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check for any other allergens that are relevant to you.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether gluten-free is a must. Then compare plain, wholemeal and chocolate varieties based on what matters for your snacks.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A classic biscuit to share | Check the net weight and ingredients; a plain digestive won’t necessarily contain as much fibre as a wholemeal variety. | If several passengers will be sharing a pack, I want a plain biscuit that I can share at different times. For around 31% of consumers, this classic, shareable option comes first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Compare the fibre per 100 g and check what proportion of the ingredients is wholemeal wheat flour. | I’d rather choose based on fibre content than flavour alone, so I can compare plain and wholemeal products. Around 31% of consumers give this need top priority. |
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging for a gluten-free label and any other relevant allergens; according to Jumbo, Schär Digestive Landtaler contains soya and may contain lupin and egg. | If I need to avoid gluten, I need a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and must also watch out for my other allergens. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Chocolate flavour | Read the ingredients and compare the sugars and saturated fat per 100 g in the specific chocolate variety with the biscuit you’d otherwise choose. | For a snack on the go, I specifically want a chocolate digestive, even though the coating means I need to check the label separately. This flavour preference comes first for around 15% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every digestive is gluten-free or allergen-free
Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s plain digestives contain wheat. According to Jumbo, Schär Digestive Landtaler is also made with soya and may contain lupin and egg, despite being gluten-free.
Check the current packaging for a gluten-free label and every allergen you need to avoid.
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Going by the word ‘wholemeal’ alone
The wholemeal varieties mentioned list more fibre per 100 g than the plain examples from the same supermarket brands. That doesn’t tell you how the products compare on their other nutritional values.
For the exact varieties, compare sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g too.
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Treating a chocolate coating as just a difference in flavour
A chocolate variety has its own ingredients list and nutritional information. The Verkade Verk digestive dark chocolate described by Albert Heijn lists milk, soya and wheat among its allergens.
Read the label for the chocolate variety itself; don’t assume it has the same allergens or nutritional values as a plain digestive.
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Relying on out-of-date product information
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore advises that the information on the packaging takes precedence.
Check the pack you’re buying before you set off, including the use-by date and storage instructions.
Brands worth comparing
Albert Heijn
The supermarket’s own brand offers plain and wholemeal digestives, both in 400 g packs.
- Albert Heijn describes its plain AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free; the wholemeal variety lists 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The varieties described contain wheat. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens when you buy.
Jumbo
This own brand lets you compare a plain, crunchy digestive with a wholemeal variety, each in a 400 g pack.
- Jumbo lists 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g for its plain variety and 5.8 g per 100 g for its wholemeal variety.
- According to Jumbo, both products contain wheat and gluten and may also contain barley, oats and rye.
McVitie's
McVitie's makes Digestive Original and also offers a dark chocolate variety.
- The plain biscuit and chocolate variety give you a choice between a classic digestive and a different flavour.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; you can’t assume the chocolate version has the same ingredients as the plain biscuit.
Schär
Jumbo sells Digestive Landtaler as a gluten-free biscuit.
- An explicitly labelled gluten-free option for anyone who can’t choose a standard wheat digestive.
- According to Jumbo, this variety contains soya and may contain lupin and egg; check the packaging for all relevant allergens.
Verkade
The Verkade Verk digestive dark chocolate described here is a dark chocolate variety.
- A specific chocolate variety to compare with a plain digestive for ingredients and nutritional information.
- The Albert Heijn product listing names milk, soya and wheat as allergens. Check whether this variety is currently available before adding it to your shopping list.
Digestives for a classic snack
This product suits anyone looking for a plain digestive to share over several snack stops.
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McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive for anyone who wants to share a biscuit at different points during a journey. According to Joybuy product information, this variety contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk. Seal the pack well after opening and store the biscuits in a dry place, preferably somewhere cool.
Frequently asked questions
Are plain digestives gluten-free?
No, don’t assume they are: Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s plain digestives contain wheat, and Jumbo also lists gluten. If you need a gluten-free variety, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the packaging for other allergens.
How do I compare the fibre content of digestives?
Compare the fibre per 100 g in the exact varieties. Albert Heijn lists 6 g for AH Digestive wholemeal and 3.2 g for plain AH Digestive; Jumbo lists 5.8 g for its wholemeal variety and 3.1 g for its plain one. Also check the ingredients list if the proportion of wholemeal wheat flour matters to you.
How should I store digestives on a road trip?
Keep the pack tightly closed and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Albert Heijn recommends storing the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening; Jumbo advises keeping its digestives well sealed and in a dark place.
Is the allergen information on a product page enough?
Use a product page to compare options in advance, but check the packaging of the product you buy. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergen information can change, so the latest information on the pack is important if you need to avoid certain allergens.