Festival-goers who want to share
Looking for a pack they can share biscuits from, and keen to keep it sealed and dry while travelling.
Who are these options for?
Those choosing a wholemeal digestive
Want to compare the fibre content per 100 g across digestive options, without needing them to be gluten-free.
Visitors who need to avoid gluten
Looking for a biscuit clearly labelled gluten-free, while also checking the other allergens on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether gluten-free is essential. Then, depending on your main priority, check the pack for sharing or compare the nutritional information for wholemeal options.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing and carrying | Compare the pack size and check how to store the biscuits after opening. | When I’m out with a group, I want to be able to hand out biscuits without carrying an open pack loose in my bag. Around 42% of consumers prioritise easy sharing. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Read the ingredients and compare the fibre listed per 100 g; check the allergens too. | Anyone specifically looking for a wholemeal digestive will want to compare the nutritional information without confusing wholemeal with gluten-free. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this choice. |
| Gluten-free and allergens | Look for a clear gluten-free label and check which other allergens may be present. | If I need to avoid gluten, a suitable label matters more than the pack size; other allergens still need to be checked separately. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this need. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all digestives are gluten-free
The McVitie's Original and Jumbo Digestive Wholemeal products reviewed contain wheat or gluten. So the name of the biscuit, or the wholemeal label, doesn’t mean it’s gluten-free.
If needed, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free and then read the full allergen information.
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Overlooking other allergens in a gluten-free biscuit
The Schär Digestive Landtaler described by Jumbo contains soya and may contain lupin and eggs. Gluten-free labelling doesn’t answer every allergen question.
Compare both the allergens present and those that may be present with the needs of the person you’re buying the biscuits for.
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Carrying an open pack loose
On the way to a festival, an open pack could come into contact with moisture. The storage advice for the McVitie's Original reviewed is to keep it in a cool, dry place and seal the packaging securely after opening.
Take the pack with you sealed, or put an opened pack in an airtight container.
Brands to consider
McVitie's
The Original is a classic digestive in a 400 g pack, as described by Albert Heijn and Joybuy.
- An option if you want to hand out a standard wheat biscuit.
- The Original reviewed contains wheat and may contain milk; check the label if allergens are relevant.
Albert Heijn
The AH Digestive reviewed is a 400 g own-brand option that Albert Heijn labels vegan and lactose-free.
- An option for comparing these specific product claims with other digestives.
- This option contains wheat and may contain barley, oats and rye. If you have dietary requirements, check the current packaging.
Jumbo
The Jumbo Digestive Wholemeal reviewed comes in a 400 g pack and is aimed at those specifically looking for a wholemeal option.
- The nutritional information gives you a starting point for comparing fibre per 100 g.
- According to Jumbo, this option contains gluten and wheat and may contain barley, oats and rye.
Schär
The Digestive Landtaler described by Jumbo is a gluten-free option, packaged as 3 × 50 g.
- An alternative to the wheat-based digestives reviewed when a gluten-free label is needed.
- This option contains soya and may contain lupin and eggs; check the label for these too.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour, rather than a traditional digestive.
- A different style of biscuit if flavour is your main consideration.
- Don’t assume a Biscoff option is wholemeal or gluten-free; check the specific product.
Digestives to take along and share
This selection features a McVitie's Original and two chocolate digestives for anyone wanting to take biscuits along to share. If gluten-free is essential, choose based on a clear gluten-free label rather than relying on this selection alone.
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McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g
A classic digestive for sharing from one pack.
The Original contains wheat and may contain milk. Store the pack in a cool, dry place and seal it securely after opening.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for sharing if this is the variety you fancy.
The pack contains 266 g. If you’re buying for a group, check the label for allergens and the number of biscuits; keep the pack securely closed after opening.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
A dark chocolate digestive for anyone who prefers that flavour when handing out biscuits.
The pack contains 266 g. If you have allergies, check the current label, and check the number of biscuits if you need a specific quantity; seal the pack securely after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary digestives gluten-free?
Not necessarily: the McVitie's Original and Jumbo Digestive Wholemeal products reviewed contain wheat or gluten. If needed, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergen information too.
How can I keep digestives crisp at a street festival?
Ideally, take them in a sealed pack and keep them dry. The storage advice for McVitie's Original recommends a cool, dry place and securely closed packaging after opening; you can also keep an opened pack in an airtight container.
Is a vegan or lactose-free digestive suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
Don’t assume so based on those labels alone: check the current allergen information for the specific product. Albert Heijn labels the AH Digestive reviewed as vegan and lactose-free; the McVitie's Original reviewed is labelled as possibly containing milk.
What should I bear in mind when handing out biscuits at a festival?
Keep the original packaging available so people can read the ingredients and allergens before taking a biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label. If you’re handling or transporting food as a business, Business.gov.nl also says that hygiene rules apply to these activities.