Who is this choice for?

Football fans who want to share biscuits

You’re looking for a familiar, crisp biscuit to put on the table during the match. Taste and sharing matter more to you than any difference in nutritional value between spritz biscuits and digestives.

Shoppers who compare labels

You want to compare fibre, sugars and saturated fat per 100 g in these two types of biscuit. The values for the exact variety are more useful than the words ‘wholemeal’ or ‘digestive’ on the front of the pack.

Shoppers with a gluten restriction or allergen concerns

Before choosing based on taste, you need to check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging, including any ‘may contain’ statements.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with allergens if they limit your choice. Then compare the flavour and nutritional information for the biscuits you’re actually considering.

What to consider What to check Who is this important for?
Classic flavour Choose between plain spritz biscuits, chocolate spritz biscuits and digestives; also check how many biscuits are in the pack. When I put biscuits out during the match, I mainly want to share those familiar, crisp spritz biscuits. For around 36% of shoppers choosing between spritz biscuits and digestives for this Oranje night, that classic flavour comes first.
Fibre and saturated fat Compare the exact varieties per 100 g for fibre and saturated fat; also check sugars and serving size. When choosing biscuits, I mainly want to see which variety lists more fibre and less saturated fat. That’s the most important consideration for around 29% of these shoppers.
Gluten and allergens Read the ingredients, allergens and ‘may contain’ statements on the exact packaging. If gluten or another allergen limits my choice, the biscuit needs to meet that requirement first. Around 21% of these shoppers prioritise this check.
How much to share Compare the pack weight and think about how many biscuits you want to put out and keep for later. For a group, I want to buy enough biscuits without opening more than necessary. For around 14% of these shoppers, pack size is the deciding factor.

The nutritional comparison applies to specific products, not all spritz biscuits or all digestives. Verkade lists 1.1 g of fibre and 14.81 g of saturated fat per 100 g for Nobo Sprits Original; Jumbo lists 5.8 g and 1.6 g per 100 g respectively for Digestive Volkoren. A chocolate variety or another digestive may have different values.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘digestive’ describes what the biscuit does

    The product name doesn’t prove that a biscuit aids digestion. Product information published by Jumbo for McVitie's Digestives Pure Chocolade explicitly states that the biscuit ingredients contain no substances that aid digestion.

    Choose based on the taste, ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety, not its name.

  • Confusing wholemeal or gluten-free with allergen-free

    Jumbo Digestive Volkoren contains wheat. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Schär Digestive Choc is labelled gluten-free and wheat-free, but contains milk and soya.

    If you have an allergy or need to avoid gluten, check the packaging first. Only then compare varieties for taste and nutritional value.

  • Treating a chocolate variety as the same as a plain one

    Chocolate doesn’t just change the flavour: Verkade Nobo Sprits with chocolate is a separate variety with its own nutritional table and ingredients list.

    If you want chocolate, compare the label for that specific variety, including sugars, saturated fat and allergens.

Brands to consider

These brands offer examples of different spritz biscuit and digestive options. The details listed apply to the products mentioned, not every biscuit from that brand.

Verkade

Nobo Sprits Original is an example of a classic spritz biscuit; there’s also a milk chocolate variety if that’s the flavour you’re after.

  • For Original, Verkade lists 1.1 g of fibre and 14.81 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
  • Don’t treat the milk chocolate variety as the same product: check its own ingredients and nutritional information.

Jumbo

The own-label range includes a wholemeal digestive in a 400 g pack.

  • For Digestive Volkoren, Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre and 1.6 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
  • This wholemeal digestive contains wheat; if you have an allergy or need to avoid gluten, check the exact packaging.

McVitie's

Digestives Original is a standard digestive in a 400 g pack; chocolate varieties are also available.

  • For Original, product information published by Jumbo lists 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • That same Original variety contains wheat and lists 10.1 g of saturated fat per 100 g. The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t prove that it affects digestion.

Schär

According to product information published by Albert Heijn, Digestive Choc is a chocolate variety that is gluten-free and wheat-free.

  • This variety is an option if you need a digestive labelled gluten-free.
  • The product contains milk and soya. If you have other allergies, check the rest of the allergen information on the packaging too.

Albert Heijn

AH Spritsen are an own-label option if you’re specifically looking for spritz biscuits rather than digestives.

  • Albert Heijn describes these spritz biscuits as made with butter.
  • Compare the nutritional information for these spritz biscuits separately with that of a digestive; the type of biscuit alone doesn’t tell you which values suit you.

Spritz biscuits and digestives at Joybuy

For football night, you can compare a standard 400 g digestive with a 150 g milk chocolate spritz biscuit. They’re different varieties, so compare more than just the flavour: check the pack size and label too.

McVities Digestive Original, 400 g pack

McVities Digestive Original 400 g

A standard digestive to share during the match if you’re not looking for spritz biscuits or a chocolate variety.

400 g pack. For McVitie's Digestives Original, product information published by Jumbo lists 3.7 g of fibre and 10.1 g of saturated fat per 100 g.

This variety contains wheat. Check the exact packaging if you have allergies.

View at Joybuy
Verkade Nobo Spritzed Milk Chocolate, 150 g pack

Verkade Nobo Spritzed Milk Chocolate 150 g

A milk chocolate spritz biscuit to share during the match if you’re after that flavour rather than a plain spritz biscuit.

150 g pack. For this chocolate variety, check its own nutritional information and allergens on the packaging; the values for Nobo Sprits Original don’t automatically apply.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are digestives better for digestion than spritz biscuits?

You can’t tell that from the name ‘digestive’. Information published by Jumbo about McVitie's Digestives Pure Chocolade explicitly states that the biscuit ingredients contain no substances that aid digestion. Choose based on the ingredients, nutritional information and taste of the variety you’re considering.

Can I choose ordinary spritz biscuits or digestives if I need to eat gluten-free?

Don’t assume so without checking the label: the Verkade Nobo Sprits Original and standard digestives reviewed contain wheat. According to product information published by Albert Heijn, Schär Digestive Choc is labelled gluten-free and wheat-free, but contains milk and soya. Always check the exact packaging for ingredients and allergens.

What does ‘wholemeal’ tell me about a digestive?

‘Wholemeal’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you what all the nutritional values will be. Jumbo Digestive Volkoren lists 5.8 g of fibre and 1.6 g of saturated fat per 100 g, but also contains wheat. When choosing, compare the full nutritional information and ingredients for the exact varieties.

How should I store biscuits after opening?

Seal the pack tightly and follow the product’s storage advice. For McVities Digestive Original, Joybuy’s product information says to store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For other spritz biscuits or digestives, check the instructions on the packaging.