If you’re after a crisp biscuit, a spritz biscuit is one option. If you want to compare wholegrain ingredients, look at ordinary digestives. An explicitly labelled gluten-free digestive is another choice if avoiding gluten is a priority for you. None of these product names proves that a biscuit is organic: check the EU organic logo, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
You’ll only pick up a pre-packed biscuit if you can check its organic status on the packaging. According to Skal Biocontrole, the EU organic logo is compulsory on pre-packed organic consumer products in the EU.
You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea and comparing spritz biscuits with digestives for their ingredients, fibre and sugar per 100 g. You’re not assuming that the name ‘digestive’ means it has a particular effect.
You need to know exactly what’s in this particular pack. A gluten-free digestive may still contain other allergens, so check the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements too.
Start with any requirements your biscuit needs to meet, such as organic certification or a gluten-free label. Then compare the type of biscuit and the nutritional information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic labelling | Look for the green EU organic logo on a pre-packed organic product. The name spritz biscuit or digestive is not proof of organic status. | I want to be able to see whether a pack meets my certification requirements when doing my organic shop. Demonstrable organic status is the top priority for around 34% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | If you’re choosing a gluten-free product, check for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack too. | If I need to avoid gluten or another allergen, the ingredients of this particular biscuit are what matter most. Around 33% of consumers say this restriction is their top priority. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugar and saturated fat per 100 g. If the serving sizes differ, check the values per serving too. | I want to compare biscuits using the same nutritional values, rather than relying on the name ‘digestive’. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Type and availability | Choose the type of biscuit you want and, if it’s only sold in stores, check availability at your local branch. | I’m mainly looking for a crisp spritz biscuit to enjoy with coffee and want to know if I can pick one up. This is the first thing around 13% of consumers consider. |
The product name does not prove that it has any particular effect. For McVitie’s Digestives Pure Chocolade, Jumbo even states that the biscuit ingredients do not contain substances that aid digestion.
Base your choice on the ingredients and nutritional information, not on an assumed effect of the name.
Wholegrain ingredients or eco-looking packaging do not confirm that a product is organic. Skal Biocontrole states that the EU organic logo is compulsory on pre-packed organic consumer products in the EU.
Check the certification logo on the pack you’re actually buying.
The Schär Digestive listed by PLUS contains soya and may contain lupin and egg. The Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade listed by Jumbo contains milk, oats and soya and may contain nuts.
Read the full allergen information for every variant, even if it says ‘gluten-free’.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Lidl also states that its roomboterspritsen are only available in store.
Check the packaging before eating the biscuit. If it’s a store-only product, check whether your local branch stocks it.
NoboSprits Original is an example of a classic spritz biscuit for anyone looking for that specific type.
The Original and chocolate variants show why it’s worth comparing digestives by recipe.
Digestive Landtaler is a gluten-free biscuit for anyone looking for that label.
Digestives Melkchocolade is a gluten-free chocolate variant, not the same product as an ordinary digestive.
Check for the green EU organic logo on the packaging. According to Skal Biocontrole, this logo is compulsory on pre-packed organic consumer products in the EU. A natural look or the type of biscuit is no substitute.
No, you can’t infer that effect from the product name. For McVitie’s Digestives Pure Chocolade, Jumbo states that the biscuit ingredients do not contain substances that aid digestion. Check the nutritional information if you want to compare variants.
Don’t assume so: the Verkade spritz biscuit and McVitie’s Original discussed here contain wheat. Look for a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the other ingredients and allergen information on the packaging too.
