Stocking up
If you want biscuits for several coffee or tea breaks, a pack of digestives is an obvious option to compare. Check the pack size and how to store the biscuits once opened.
Which biscuit is right for you?
Fans of filled biscuits
Looking for a filled biscuit for a treat? According to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano's are 46% filled with almond paste. That makes them a different type of product from a plain digestive.
Checking the label
Whether you need to avoid gluten or other allergens, or want to compare sugars and fibre, check the information for the specific variety. The plain digestives included in this comparison contain wheat; choosing another brand or variety doesn’t change the need to check.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a filled Kano or a biscuit. Then compare the pack size, nutritional information and ingredients that matter to you within that product type.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuits for different occasions | Compare the net weight and check how to reseal the pack after opening. | If I want biscuits for different coffee or tea breaks, I look for a pack I can store between occasions. Around 40% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| A filled treat | Check whether it’s a filled biscuit and, if you wish, compare the sugars per 100 g. | For a treat, I want almond paste rather than a plain biscuit. Around 30% of consumers say a filled biscuit is their first choice. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | For digestives, compare the proportion of wholemeal wheat flour and the fibre per 100 g; check the other nutritional information too. | When I choose a digestive, I mainly want to know how much wholemeal wheat and fibre each variety contains. This comparison matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about possible traces. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I can’t rely on the product name alone. Around 10% of consumers put checking for gluten or other allergens ahead of their other requirements. |
Common mistakes
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Treating Kano's as plain digestives
A Kano filled with almond paste and a wheat biscuit won’t necessarily meet the same needs. If you’re looking for a biscuit base, for example, the filling makes a significant difference.
First choose the product type that suits your occasion or recipe; compare the varieties afterwards.
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Reading too much into a claim on the front of the pack
A wholemeal digestive can still contain wheat. According to the product information, the gluten-free Schär Digestive Landtaler contains soya and may contain lupin and egg. Albert Heijn also warns that excessive consumption of AH Digestive 0% sugar may have a laxative effect.
For the variety in question, read the full ingredients list, nutritional information and warnings rather than relying on a single claim to meet all your dietary needs.
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Relying only on an online product description
When it comes to allergens in particular, the information on the pack you actually buy matters. Ingredients and product information can change.
Before eating, check the label on the pack, including the allergen information and any warning about possible traces.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
At Albert Heijn, you can compare the BASIC Kano's included in this review with plain, wholemeal and 0% sugar digestives.
- According to Albert Heijn, its BASIC Kano's contain 46% almond paste filling; you can compare the nutritional information for each digestive variety.
- Features such as the dietary claim on AH Digestive don’t automatically apply to the brand’s other biscuits.
McVitie's
A brand to compare if you’re specifically looking for an Original digestive.
- The Original included in this review is a wheat biscuit; compare its pack size with the other digestives on your list.
- According to the product information, this variety contains wheat and may contain milk. Check the current packaging if this matters to your choice.
Jumbo
The plain and wholemeal digestives included in this review make it easy to compare products of the same type.
- For its wholemeal digestive included in this review, Jumbo lists 37.3% wholemeal wheat flour.
- The digestives included in this review contain wheat and gluten; the wholemeal variety isn’t a gluten-free alternative.
Verkade
Verkade Oaties is an oat biscuit to consider separately, not a Kano or a classic digestive.
- Verkade describes Oaties as gluten-free.
- Check that an oat biscuit is what you’re looking for, and check the packaging of your chosen variety for allergen information.
Schär
Schär Digestive Landtaler is one option included in this review if you need a product explicitly labelled gluten-free.
- PLUS lists this variety as gluten-free in its product information.
- According to that information, it contains soya and may contain lupin and egg. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all allergens.
Digestives at Joybuy
This selection is for anyone looking for a plain digestive as part of a small top-up shop. A filled Kano or a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free is a different choice.
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McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive for anyone topping up their biscuits for coffee or tea. The pack contains 400 g. If you have dietary requirements, check the label for wheat, gluten-containing cereals and possible traces of milk.
Frequently asked questions
Are Kano's and digestive biscuits the same type of biscuit?
No. According to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano's are filled with almond paste, while AH Digestive is a wheat biscuit. Choose between these product types based on what you want to eat or use, then compare the varieties.
Can I eat a plain digestive if I need to follow a gluten-free diet?
Don’t assume so: the plain digestives included in this review from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and McVitie's, among others, contain wheat or gluten-containing cereals. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the current packaging for other allergens too.
How should I store an opened pack of Kano's or digestives?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal opened biscuits well. Albert Heijn recommends keeping its BASIC Kano's in a sealed tin; the digestives included in this review should be stored in a dry place or sealed well.
What should I check on the label if allergens are important?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you buy, including any warning about possible traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly identifiable on labels; don’t judge suitability by the product name alone.