Choose a plain rice cake if you want a neutral, crunchy base with your afternoon coffee that you can top yourself if you like. Choose a digestive if you’d rather have a ready-to-eat wheat biscuit. Before deciding, compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the exact pack. The AH Plain Rice Cakes reviewed are labelled gluten-free, while McVitie's Digestive Original contains wheat.
You want something crunchy with your coffee and the option to decide whether to top your rice cake. According to Albert Heijn, AH Plain Rice Cakes are made with brown rice and sea salt and are labelled gluten-free. Check the labelling again if you choose a different variety.
You’d rather have a biscuit to eat straight from the pack with your coffee, and don’t need to avoid wheat. McVitie's Netherlands lists wheat flour, wholemeal wheat flour and sugar as ingredients in Digestive Original.
You pay close attention to specific ingredients and allergens when shopping for yourself or your household. Check the information on the exact pack: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on food labels.
First decide whether you want a neutral base or a biscuit to enjoy with your coffee. Then check that your chosen variety meets any ingredient or allergen requirements you have.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral base | Check that you’re choosing a plain rice cake and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. | I want something crunchy with my coffee and the option to decide whether to add a topping. For around 45% of consumers, a neutral base is the priority. |
| Digestive biscuits | Check the ingredients and compare fat, sugar and serving size on the label. | I’d rather have a crisp, lightly sweet biscuit with my afternoon coffee. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this kind of biscuit. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including any relevant ‘may contain’ warnings. | If I’m buying for someone with an allergy or who wants to avoid gluten, the chosen variety must clearly meet their needs. Around 22% of consumers make this their priority. |
Albert Heijn labels the AH Plain Rice Cakes reviewed as gluten-free. However, Jumbo states that Jumbo Plain Rice Cakes may contain sesame and soya. Whether a product is suitable for you depends on the exact variety and the allergens that matter to you.
Before buying, check the ingredients, any gluten-free labelling and the warnings on the pack.
McVitie's Digestive Original contains wheat and sugar, while the AH Plain Rice Cakes reviewed are made with brown rice and sea salt. They’re different types of snack, even if you enjoy both with your coffee.
First choose between a neutral base and a biscuit. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving on the packs you’re considering.
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between varieties. Albert Heijn also points out that product information may change.
Use the online information to help you choose, but check the physical pack too before eating the product or giving it to someone with an allergy.
These product ranges illustrate the label differences that may matter when choosing. The features of one variety don’t necessarily apply to every product from the same brand.
With AH Plain Rice Cakes and AH Digestive, you can compare a plain rice cake and a biscuit from the same own-brand range.
Jumbo Plain Rice Cakes are worth considering if you’re looking for a plain rice cake.
Zonnatura offers a rice cake for anyone specifically looking for a variety made with organic brown rice.
Digestive Original is a wheat biscuit for anyone who wants a ready-to-eat biscuit with their coffee.
This selection focuses on biscuits: a digestive you can enjoy with your afternoon coffee. When comparing it with a rice cake, also check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack.
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A digestive for anyone who’d rather have a biscuit with their coffee than a plain rice cake.
400 g pack. If you need to avoid wheat or other allergens, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
No, don’t assume they are just because of the product category. Albert Heijn labels the AH Plain Rice Cakes reviewed as gluten-free, but check the claim and allergen information again for every other variety or pack.
No. The Digestive Original described by McVitie's Netherlands contains wheat flour and wholemeal wheat flour. Look for a product whose ingredients and allergen information meet your requirements.
Store the AH Plain Rice Cakes reviewed and McVitie's Digestive Original in a dry, tightly sealed container. Also follow any storage advice on the pack you’ve bought.
Before eating, read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details on the pack you received. Albert Heijn notes that product information may change. If there’s a difference that matters to you, the online description is no substitute for checking the exact pack.
