Breakfast fans who keep an eye on fibre
You want to enjoy a biscuit alongside the rest of your weekend breakfast, so you compare the fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt in different varieties.
Who might be interested in these biscuits?
Fans of classic biscuit flavours
You’re looking for a digestive or speculoos to enjoy with coffee or tea, or as part of a relaxed breakfast. The flavour you prefer will guide which types you compare, and their nutritional information may differ.
Shoppers checking allergens
You check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging before buying. Wheat, milk and soya can feature differently from one variety to another.
What should you look for when choosing?
Wholemeal digestive
A good choice if: You want to compare fibre content within the biscuit category. AH Digestive wholemeal offers a useful example, with 6 g of fibre per 100 g, according to Albert Heijn.
Worth bearing in mind: The same variety also contains 20 g of sugars and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g, so look beyond the word ‘wholemeal’.
Classic digestive
A good choice if: You’re looking for a familiar wheat biscuit. McVitie’s Digestives Original is an example of this style.
Worth bearing in mind: Jumbo lists 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety, as well as 10.1 g of saturated fat and 15.1 g of sugars.
Speculoos
A good choice if: You’re after the distinctive caramelised flavour of speculoos with your coffee or breakfast. Lotus Biscoff Original is a different biscuit choice from a digestive.
Worth bearing in mind: Lotus Bakeries lists 1.3 g of fibre and 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Biscoff Original. Don’t treat speculoos as interchangeable with a digestive chosen for its higher fibre content.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and breakfast | Compare fibre per 100 g and consider how many biscuits you eat alongside the rest of your breakfast. | If I have a biscuit alongside breakfast, I want to know how much fibre it adds without seeing it as a substitute for the rest of my meal. Around 44% of consumers put this fibre consideration first. |
| Flavour and type of biscuit | Choose between digestive and speculoos based on flavour; if you’re unsure, compare the sugars per 100 g too. | With coffee or tea, I mainly want a biscuit whose flavour suits the occasion. For around 33% of consumers, this choice of flavour is the most important factor. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning on the specific pack. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I want to check the exact variety I’ve chosen before eating it. Around 23% of consumers are expected to prioritise this check. |
Common misconceptions about digestive biscuits
-
Taking ‘digestive’ as a health claim
The product name doesn’t mean the biscuit is a treatment or a complete breakfast. The Voedingscentrum lists 0.5 g of fibre in an average 15 g digestive biscuit.
Check the nutritional information for the biscuit you’ve chosen and decide what else you’d like to have for breakfast.
-
Choosing based on ‘wholemeal’ alone
A wholemeal variety can contain sugars, salt and saturated fat as well as fibre. For example, Albert Heijn lists 6 g of fibre and 20 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Digestive wholemeal.
Compare similar biscuits per 100 g using the full nutrition table.
-
Guessing allergens from the brand name
McVitie’s Digestives Original lists wheat and the possible presence of milk; Lotus Biscoff Original lists wheat and soya, among other ingredients. Ingredients vary by product.
Check the current ingredients list and any warnings about traces every time you buy.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive wholemeal, made with wheat flour, is a 400 g own-brand variety.
- Albert Heijn lists 6 g of fibre and 1.6 g of saturated fat per 100 g for this variety.
- The label also lists 20 g of sugars and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g, so consider the figures together.
Jumbo
Jumbo Digestive Wholemeal is a 400 g own-brand variety for anyone looking to compare wholemeal digestives.
- Wholemeal wheat flour is listed as the first ingredient for this variety.
- Check the current nutritional information and allergens on the packaging before comparing it with another variety.
McVitie’s
Digestives Original is a classic digestive biscuit in a 400 g pack.
- Jumbo lists 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists 10.1 g of saturated fat, 15.1 g of sugars and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g. Check the allergens on the current packaging too.
Lotus Biscoff
Biscoff Original is a speculoos biscuit for anyone looking for a different flavour from a classic digestive.
- Lotus Bakeries describes this variety as a crunchy speculoos biscuit with a caramelised flavour profile.
- Lotus Bakeries lists 1.3 g of fibre, 38.1 g of sugars and 8 g of saturated fat per 100 g. It isn’t a like-for-like alternative if fibre is your main point of comparison.
Biscotto
Biscotto Digestive Biscuits is a 400 g ALDI own-brand variety.
- ALDI says there are around 27 biscuits per pack.
- Check the current packaging for ingredients, nutritional information and allergens before comparing this variety with other digestives.
A classic digestive on Joybuy
This digestive suits anyone looking for a classic biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea, or as part of a weekend breakfast. Use the nutritional information to compare it with other biscuits; it doesn’t represent the wholemeal or speculoos options too.
Image unavailable
McVitie’s Digestive Original 400 g
A classic digestive for anyone looking for a biscuit to enjoy with tea or coffee, or as part of a weekend breakfast.
The product information lists 3.7 g of fibre, 15.1 g of sugars, 10.1 g of saturated fat and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g. The biscuit contains wheat and may contain milk; if you have an allergy, check the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digestive biscuit a complete weekend breakfast on its own?
No. It’s better to think of a digestive as a small part of breakfast. The Voedingscentrum recommends options including wholegrain foods, yoghurt and fruit for breakfast. Choose a combination that suits your breakfast routine.
How do I compare digestives from different brands?
Compare similar biscuits per 100 g for fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt. This puts the nutritional information on the same footing; also check the ingredients and the portion you plan to eat.
What should I check if I need to avoid certain ingredients?
Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ warning. The allergen information for digestives and speculoos can vary, including for wheat, milk and soya.
How should I store an opened pack of biscuits?
Seal the pack securely after opening or use an airtight biscuit tin. Follow the storage advice on the packaging for your chosen variety; Albert Heijn recommends keeping AH Digestive wholemeal in a sealed tin.