Fan of a classic biscuit with coffee
You’re looking for a crunchy digestive without a chocolate coating or any specific dietary restrictions.
Who are these options for?
Comparing fibre and ingredients
You want to compare plain and wholemeal options for things like fibre, sugars, fat and the ingredients list, rather than relying on the front of the pack alone.
Host who takes allergens into account
You need a gluten-free option, or want to check before serving which varieties contain wheat, milk, soya or other relevant allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with any essential allergen restrictions. Then choose the flavour you want. If you’re interested in wholemeal options, compare the nutritional information for the exact varieties you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Plain biscuits with coffee | Choose a variety without a chocolate coating and check the ingredients for wheat. | When I’m serving coffee to a range of guests, I want a simple biscuit without a chocolate flavour. For around 31% of consumers, this kind of classic option comes first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Compare fibre per 100 g, and also read the information about sugars and allergens. | I want to know whether a wholemeal option contains more fibre than the plain variety I’d otherwise buy. Around 23% of consumers give this comparison top priority. |
| Gluten-free and allergens | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ information too. | If a guest needs to eat gluten-free, I can’t simply serve an ordinary wheat biscuit. This essential restriction comes first for around 8% of consumers. |
| Chocolate flavour | Check the type of chocolate, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. | If I want the biscuit itself to have a distinct chocolate flavour, I’ll choose differently than I would for a plain biscuit. For around 38% of consumers, this flavour choice matters most. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘digestive’ describes what the biscuit does
The product name doesn’t tell you what a biscuit does. For McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo states that the ingredients in the biscuit contain no substances that aid digestion.
Treat ‘digestive’ as a product name, and compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you want to buy.
-
Confusing wholemeal with gluten-free or lower in sugar
Jumbo Digestive Wholemeal contains wheat and gluten. For this variety, Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre and 19.3 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare fibre and sugars separately. If you need a gluten-free option, always check that the pack is explicitly labelled as such.
-
Treating chocolate and plain biscuits as the same variety
According to Jumbo, McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate contains milk, soya and wheat, with 28.5 g of sugars and 12.4 g of saturated fat per 100 g. For McVitie’s Original, Jumbo lists 15.1 g of sugars and 10.1 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
Compare the exact varieties and read the allergen information if you’re serving the biscuits to other people.
-
Relying only on online product information
Ingredients and nutritional values can change. If someone has an allergy, the information on the pack you’re serving may therefore be particularly important.
Just before buying or serving, read the up-to-date ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ information.
Brands compared
Jumbo
Krokante Digestive and Digestive Volkoren let you compare two 400 g varieties from Jumbo.
- Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g for Volkoren and 3.1 g for Krokante Digestive.
- Both varieties reviewed contain wheat and gluten. Their sugar values are very similar: 19.3 g and 19.2 g per 100 g.
McVitie’s
Original and Digestives Milk Chocolate are two different options: a plain biscuit or a chocolate flavour.
- For Original, Jumbo lists 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g; the milk chocolate variety reviewed contains 30% milk chocolate.
- The milk chocolate variety contains milk, soya and wheat. Check the sugars and saturated fat for each variety too.
Schär
Digestive Landtaler is explicitly labelled as gluten-free, making it an option alongside regular wheat digestives.
- Albert Heijn labels the variety reviewed as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free.
- This variety contains soya and may contain egg and lupin, so read the full allergen information on the pack.
Verkade
The 400 g Digestive Original can be used to compare labels with other plain varieties.
- Albert Heijn listed 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The product information lists wheat and possible traces of milk. On 7 October 2026, Albert Heijn marked the product as ‘discontinued’; check current availability with the retailer.
Digestives on Joybuy
These products include a plain digestive and two chocolate varieties to enjoy with coffee. If it matters to your guests, use wholemeal or gluten-free as a separate selection criterion.
No image available
McVitie’s Digestives Original 400 g
A plain digestive for anyone who doesn’t want a chocolate coating with their coffee.
For this Original variety, Jumbo lists 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g. The biscuit contains wheat and may contain milk; check the current pack if allergens are a concern.
No image available
McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for anyone who fancies a chocolate flavour with their coffee.
For this variety, Jumbo lists 30% milk chocolate, 28.5 g of sugars and 12.4 g of saturated fat per 100 g. The product contains milk, soya and wheat; check the current label before serving it to guests.
No image available
McVitie’s Digestives with Dark Chocolate 266 g
A dark chocolate digestive for anyone who prefers that flavour to plain or milk chocolate.
When comparing different chocolate digestives or buying them for guests, check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack for this exact variety.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘digestive’ tell you what the biscuit does?
No, the name alone doesn’t prove that it has any particular effect. For McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo explicitly states that the ingredients in the biscuit contain no substances that aid digestion. Assess each variety based on its own ingredients and nutritional information.
Is a wholemeal digestive also gluten-free?
No. Wholemeal doesn’t mean gluten-free: Jumbo Digestive Volkoren contains wheat and gluten. If you need a gluten-free biscuit, look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the current packaging.
Which allergens should I check in a milk chocolate digestive?
Always check the allergens on the pack for the exact variety. For McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, soya and wheat; other varieties may have a different ingredients list.
How should I store digestives once opened?
Seal the pack well after opening and follow the product’s storage instructions. For the variety reviewed, Jumbo advises keeping it tightly sealed and storing it in a dark place; McVitie’s says to store it in a cool, dry place.