If you want to share a classic biscuit
A spritz biscuit is a good choice if you’re looking for a buttery, crumbly treat to enjoy with coffee or tea before the parade. Bear its delicate texture in mind when taking it with you.
Which biscuit is right for you?
If you’re looking for a lactose-free or vegan option
A plain digestive may be suitable if you want to avoid milk ingredients: Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive as lactose-free and vegan. However, this biscuit contains wheat, so check the packaging of the product you buy.
If you need to consider allergens
Check the ingredients and warnings for each product against the needs of the people eating it. Jumbo lists its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade as gluten-free, but also identifies milk, oats and soya as allergens and warns that it may contain nuts.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which type of biscuit and ingredients suit the people you’re serving. Then choose a pack size to match the number of people you’re treating.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and type of biscuit | Choose between a buttery, crumbly spritz and a crunchy digestive; also consider whether you’d prefer a plain or chocolate variety. | If I want to serve a familiar biscuit with coffee or tea, the flavour I’m after will guide my choice. Around 40% of consumers prioritise the type and flavour of the biscuit. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even for a lactose-free or gluten-free option. | If I’m considering what someone can or wants to eat, the specific product needs to suit their requirements. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Quantity | Compare the net weight and, where stated, the number of servings and serving size. | When I’m treating a group, I want to bring enough biscuits without having too many left over. The quantity needed is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving, including fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt. | If I’m choosing between varieties, I want to compare the nutritional information on the specific packs. Around 10% of consumers give this comparison the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a digestive because of its name
The name doesn’t mean that a biscuit aids digestion. For McVitie’s Digestives Pure Chocolade, Jumbo states that the biscuit contains no ingredients that do this.
Choose according to the flavour you want, and check the label on the specific variety for its nutritional information.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens
According to Jumbo, its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade contains milk, oats and soya and may contain nuts.
Before serving the biscuits, check the packaging for all relevant allergens and warnings.
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Relying on an ingredients list you read previously
Ingredients and allergen information can change. So, checking a product page earlier isn’t enough to confirm what’s in the biscuits you eventually serve.
Read the packaging of your chosen variety when you buy it and before serving.
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Looking only at the pack size
Pack weight and serving size aren’t the same. Albert Heijn lists AH Spritsen as 200 g, with ten 20 g servings, and AH Digestive as 400 g, with 27 15 g servings.
Choose a quantity that suits the number of people you’re serving, and check how to store an opened pack.
A larger pack may leave you with biscuits to store in a dry, tightly sealed container after the parade.
Brands worth considering
Verkade
For anyone looking for a plain spritz biscuit with a crumbly texture.
- Albert Heijn describes Verkade Nobo Sprits Naturel as a crumbly biscuit, sold in a 150 g pack.
- This product contains milk and wheat and may contain nuts and sesame; this information applies to this variety.
Albert Heijn
In this comparison, the own-label range includes both spritz biscuits and plain digestives.
- AH Spritsen is a 200 g butter spritz biscuit; AH Digestive comes in a 400 g pack and is listed by Albert Heijn as vegan and lactose-free.
- AH Digestive contains wheat. Check the current packaging of both products for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
The own-label range includes a wholemeal digestive and a separate gluten-free chocolate variety.
- Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g for its Digestive Volkoren; Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade is labelled gluten-free.
- The wholemeal variety contains wheat and gluten. The gluten-free chocolate variety contains milk, oats and soya and may contain nuts.
McVitie’s
A brand to include when comparing standard digestives.
- Jumbo lists McVitie’s Digestives Original as a 400 g pack with an average of 27 biscuit servings.
- This variety contains wheat and may contain milk; check other varieties separately.
Spritz and digestives at Joybuy
These products include a plain digestive and chocolate varieties, including a spritz biscuit. First choose the type of biscuit you want, then check the ingredients and quantity on the pack you’ve selected.
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McVitie’s Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive to share at the parade. The pack contains 400 g; Jumbo lists wheat as an allergen for this variety and says it may contain milk. Check the current packaging if this is important for the people you’re serving.
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Verkade Nobo Spritzed Milk Chocolate 150 g
For anyone who’d like to serve spritz biscuits with milk chocolate instead of a plain biscuit. This pack contains 150 g; check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before serving.
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McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for anyone who wants to serve a chocolate variety as a treat. The pack contains 266 g; check the current allergen information before sharing the biscuits.
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McVitie’s Digestives with Dark Chocolate 266 g
A dark chocolate digestive to share at the parade if you prefer this variety. The pack contains 266 g; check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging when choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a vegan or lactose-free digestive also gluten-free?
No, these properties don’t automatically mean that a biscuit is gluten-free. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive as vegan and lactose-free, but it contains wheat and may contain barley, oats and rye. Check the packaging of the variety you buy.
What should I check on a pack of biscuits if someone has an allergy?
Read the ingredients list, the highlighted allergens and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that the mandatory allergen information on labels covers 14 allergens; tailor your checks to the person you’re buying the biscuits for.
Does the name ‘digestive’ say anything about digestion?
No, don’t assume the name means the biscuit has any particular effect. For McVitie’s Digestives Pure Chocolade, Jumbo states that the biscuit contains no ingredients that aid digestion. Instead, compare biscuits by flavour, ingredients and the nutritional information for the variety you choose.
How should I store spritz or digestives once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal an opened pack securely. An airtight biscuit tin is handy if you’ve taken biscuits to the parade and want to keep any leftovers for later.