Organisers of a coffee or tea buffet
You’re looking for a familiar, crisp biscuit to serve alongside hot drinks. A spritz biscuit is one option, as long as you check the allergens in each variety you choose.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Organisers who prefer wholemeal or plant-based options
You’d like to offer a different biscuit alongside spritz biscuits. Albert Heijn describes its Digestive wholemeal biscuits made with wheat flour as vegan and lactose-free; the product still contains wheat.
Organisers arranging a separate gluten-free option
You want to put out a separate biscuit for guests who need to avoid gluten. Even with a gluten-free digestive, check the other allergens on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
Classic spritz biscuits
Choose this option: if a crisp biscuit with coffee or tea is your priority.
Bear in mind: Verkade Nobo Sprits Original contains wheat and milk ingredients, according to Verkade; other spritz biscuits may contain different allergens.
Digestives
Choose this option: if you’d like to serve a biscuit made with wholemeal flour, or are looking for a specific plant-based or lactose-free variety.
Bear in mind: the standard McVitie's and Albert Heijn varieties discussed here contain wheat.
Separate gluten-free digestive
Choose this option: if you want to put an explicitly gluten-free alternative on the buffet.
Bear in mind: gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all other allergens. Check the exact variety and serve it separately from standard biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit style | Choose between classic spritz biscuits and digestives; if you opt for a chocolate variety, check the ingredients too. | I mainly want to serve a familiar, crisp biscuit alongside coffee or tea. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this biscuit style. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information on each pack and keep any gluten-free option separate. | I want to know exactly which biscuit suits the needs of guests who have to avoid certain ingredients. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Wholemeal or plant-based | Compare the wholemeal flour and nutritional information; check whether each variety is labelled vegan or lactose-free. | I’d also like to offer a biscuit made with wholemeal flour or a plant-based option, without overlooking wheat. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and presentation | Compare pack weights and portions; check the storage instructions and open packs as you need them. | I want to have enough biscuits ready without opening everything at the start of the buffet. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this kind of planning. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all spritz biscuits or digestives contain the same allergens
Verkade lists wheat and milk ingredients for Nobo Sprits Original. PLUS also lists egg in its spritz biscuits. You can’t assume another biscuit has the same ingredients.
Make a buffet label using the packaging for each variety you’re actually serving.
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Assuming all digestives are gluten-free
The standard McVitie's and Albert Heijn digestives discussed here contain wheat. A digestive labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens.
For a gluten-free option, choose a specific product labelled as such, then check the full allergen information.
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Serving biscuits without clear product information
When biscuits are served loose, it’s no longer obvious which ingredients belong to which plate. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also sets out requirements for businesses offering unpackaged food to consumers in the Netherlands.
Keep the packaging or a clear allergen list for each plate by the buffet, and take care not to mix things up when topping them up.
Brands to consider
Verkade
The Nobo range includes classic spritz biscuits and a milk chocolate variety.
- According to Verkade, Nobo Sprits Original contains wheat flour and milk ingredients.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each Nobo variety rather than relying on the brand name.
McVitie's
Digestives Original is a standard digestive for anyone looking to serve this biscuit style alongside spritz biscuits.
- Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour in McVitie's Digestives Original.
- The variety listed contains wheat; check the packaging for other allergens too.
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive wholemeal biscuits made with wheat flour are an own-brand option if you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal digestive.
- Albert Heijn labels this variety as vegan and lactose-free.
- The ingredients include wheat; these labels don’t mean the biscuit is gluten-free.
Jumbo
The range includes a standard digestive and a separate chocolate variety labelled gluten-free.
- Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Milk Chocolate offers a familiar option for a separate gluten-free selection.
- Jumbo lists milk, oats and soya for this chocolate variety, and states that it may contain nuts.
Schär
Digestive Landtaler is a biscuit sold separately as a gluten-free option.
- PLUS describes this variety as gluten-free biscuits.
- Check the other allergens in this variety too before choosing it for a guest.
Spritz biscuits and digestives on Joybuy
These products offer a choice of standard digestives, chocolate digestives and spritz biscuits with milk chocolate. If you’d also like to serve a gluten-free biscuit, choose a separate variety specifically labelled gluten-free.
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McVities Digestive Original, 400 g
A standard digestive if you’d like to offer this biscuit style alongside spritz biscuits. The pack contains 400 g. Albert Heijn lists wheat for McVitie's Digestives Original; check the allergens on the pack you receive before serving it at the buffet.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
A digestive topped with dark chocolate for anyone looking to serve a chocolate variety too. The pack contains 266 g. If you’re serving guests with allergies, check the packaging in particular for wheat, milk and soya.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive if you’d like to serve a chocolate variety alongside a plain biscuit. The pack contains 266 g. Check the pack you receive for wheat, milk and soya.
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Verkade Nobo Spritzed Milk Chocolate, 150 g
A milk chocolate spritz biscuit for anyone looking to add a chocolate variety to their spritz selection. The pack contains 150 g. Check the allergens for this exact variety, paying particular attention to any mentions of nuts and sesame.
Frequently asked questions
What allergen information should be available for loose biscuits at a wedding buffet?
Keep the allergen information for the product actually being served available for each plate. For businesses offering unpackaged food to consumers in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires information about designated allergens; under the applicable conditions, this can be provided in writing, electronically or verbally. Even at a private buffet, keeping the packaging or a clear label by each plate helps you give guests accurate information.
Are digestives gluten-free?
Not automatically: the standard McVitie's, Albert Heijn and Jumbo digestives discussed here contain wheat. If needed, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, then check the other allergens in that variety.
Can I serve a gluten-free digestive on the same plate as spritz biscuits?
Serve a gluten-free digestive separately if you want to offer a dedicated gluten-free option. The standard spritz biscuits discussed here contain wheat, so keep the products and their allergen information clearly separated for each plate.
How can I serve biscuits without opening all the packs at once?
Top up the plates with smaller quantities and follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the remaining biscuits. When replenishing, keep the varieties and their allergen information separate.