Holidaymakers looking for a spritz biscuit as a treat
You want a crumbly biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea and are choosing mainly on taste. Still, check the packaging if fibre or saturated fat matters to you.
Who might prefer each option?
Shoppers comparing nutritional information
You’re looking for biscuits to take on holiday and comparing fibre, sugars, saturated fat and serving size across varieties, rather than relying on the product name alone.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients and allergens
You have a specific dietary requirement or need to avoid an allergen. In that case, the current ingredients list for the spritz biscuit or digestive you choose matters more than the product category alone.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a classic spritz biscuit or a digestive. Then compare the exact products: recipes and nutritional information can vary even within the same type.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and occasion | Choose the type of biscuit you want, and check the ingredients if, for example, butter is important to your choice. | For a holiday coffee break, I mainly want a spritz biscuit that suits my taste. This treat comes first for around 40% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars and saturated fat per 100 g; also check the serving size on the packaging. | If I’m taking biscuits for several occasions, I want to know how the varieties differ on the label. Around 30% of consumers make this comparison their top priority. |
| Pack size and supplies | Compare the net weight and the number of biscuits or servings. Check the storage instructions for the opened pack. | For several days away, I want a pack that suits how much we’ll eat. Pack size matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information, as well as any ‘may contain’ warning; check that the specific pack is labelled gluten-free. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the details on the specific pack determine which biscuit is suitable. For around 10% of consumers, this check is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Taking the name ‘digestive’ as a health claim
The product name alone says nothing about its effect on digestion. For McVitie's Digestives Pure Chocolate, Jumbo states that the biscuit contains no ingredients that aid digestion.
To make your choice, compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific digestive with those of the spritz biscuit you’re considering.
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Assuming packs with different contents provide the same amount
Albert Heijn lists the Verkade Nobo Sprits reviewed here in a 150 g pack; the PLUS Digestive reviewed here contains 400 g. So one pack of each does not give you the same amount of biscuits.
Check the net weight, the number of servings and whether you can store the pack after opening according to the storage instructions.
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Choosing a 0% sugar variety without checking the rest of the label
The AH Digestive 0% Sugar reviewed here contains polyols. Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Also read the other nutritional information, ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
The Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade reviewed here contains milk, oats and soya; Jumbo also says it may contain nuts.
For the pack you’re buying, check both the gluten-free label and the full allergen information.
Brands and own-label options to consider
Verkade
Worth considering if you want to compare a classic spritz biscuit with a digestive from the same brand.
- For Nobo Sprits Original, Verkade lists 1.1 g of fibre and 14.81 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
- To compare it with Verkade Digestive Original, check the separate pack: Albert Heijn lists 16% wholemeal wheat flour and 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g for this digestive.
Albert Heijn
The own-label range includes both spritz biscuits and a speciality digestive among the products reviewed.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Spritsen contain 29% butter.
- For AH Digestive 0% Sugar, Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Jumbo
Worth considering if you’re comparing a wholemeal digestive or looking specifically for a chocolate variety labelled gluten-free.
- Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre and 1.6 g of saturated fat per 100 g for Digestive Volkoren.
- According to Jumbo, the gluten-free chocolate digestive reviewed here contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts.
PLUS
An own-label option to consider if you’re looking for a 400 g pack of plain digestives.
- PLUS lists 3.3 g of fibre and 1.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g for its Digestive biscuit.
- If you have dietary requirements, check the packaging: this variety contains wheat and, according to PLUS, may also contain rye, barley and oats.
Biscotto
An ALDI own-label brand, with a 400 g pack of digestives among the products reviewed.
- ALDI describes the pack as containing approximately 27 biscuits.
- For a comparison of ingredients, nutritional values or allergens, check the information on the packaging.
Digestives at Joybuy
These two digestives suit different occasions: one plain variety and one with dark chocolate. Check the packaging if nutritional values or allergens will influence your choice.
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McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive for anyone who wants to take this type of biscuit along to enjoy with coffee or tea.
Pack size: 400 g.
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McVitie's Digestives with dark chocolate 266 g
A digestive for anyone looking for a chocolate variety as a treat.
Dark chocolate; pack size: 266 g.
Frequently asked questions
Are digestives intended to aid digestion?
The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t prove that a biscuit aids digestion. For the McVitie's Digestives Pure Chocolade reviewed here, Jumbo states that the biscuit contains no ingredients that aid digestion. So choose based on the product’s ingredients and nutritional information, not its name alone.
Which variety in this comparison contains more fibre and less saturated fat?
Jumbo Digestive Volkoren lists 5.8 g of fibre and 1.6 g of saturated fat per 100 g; Verkade Nobo Sprits Original lists 1.1 g of fibre and 14.81 g of saturated fat per 100 g. This difference applies to these two products. For other varieties, check the values per 100 g again.
Can I choose regular spritz biscuits or digestives if I need a gluten-free diet?
Don’t assume regular spritz biscuits or digestives are gluten-free: the standard varieties reviewed here contain wheat. Look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free on the pack you choose, and check the other ingredients and allergens too.
Where can I find allergen information for the biscuits I’m buying?
Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that mandatory labelling covers 14 allergens; which ones are relevant varies by product.