Student stocking up on biscuits for the first time
You want to know what pack size suits how much you eat yourself or share with housemates. A larger pack is most practical if you can store the biscuits properly once opened.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Coffee or tea drinker looking for something to enjoy with a cuppa
Your main consideration is the type of biscuit: a crisp, buttery spritz biscuit or a crunchy digestive to have with coffee, tea or when you have visitors.
Shopper comparing labels
You want to compare ingredients and nutritional information, or check whether a variety suits your allergy requirements. Even if a product is labelled gluten-free, check the packaging for other allergens too.
What should you look for when choosing?
Before stocking up on biscuits for the first time, decide which type you’d like and how much you’re likely to get through. Then compare the storage instructions and, where relevant, the nutritional information and allergens for each variety.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the weight in grams with how much you’ll use. ALDI lists its Biscotto Digestive Biscuits in a 400 g pack. | For my first stock-up, I want a pack size that suits how much I’ll get through. Around 36% of consumers put pack size first. |
| Flavour and biscuit type | Decide whether you want a butter-rich spritz biscuit, a plain digestive or a chocolate variety; these are different products. | With coffee or tea, I mainly want to choose the biscuit that appeals to me: crisp and buttery or crunchy. For around 29% of consumers, flavour is the main consideration. |
| Sharing and storage | Check the storage instructions and whether you can seal the pack properly once it’s open. | In a shared kitchen, I want to avoid an opened pack going soft or being left uneaten. Sharing and storage matter most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and nutritional information | Read the current allergen information. Compare fibre, sugars and saturated fat per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises when checking nutritional values. | If I need to consider ingredients or nutritional values, the label helps determine my choice. Around 14% of consumers put these checks first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming the name digestive is a health claim
The name of the biscuit doesn’t tell you what it does for your digestion. Jumbo says that McVitie's Digestives Pure Chocolate contains no substances that promote digestion.
Think of digestive as a type of biscuit. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the varieties you’re considering before you choose.
-
Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens
For its gluten-free digestive with milk chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, oats and soya, as well as a warning that the product may contain nuts.
Read the full allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging you buy.
-
Opening a large pack without a storage plan
If biscuits aren’t sealed properly after opening, their texture can suffer. This is particularly important if you’ll be using a pack over several occasions or sharing it with housemates.
Follow the storage advice on the label and seal the pack properly after opening, or use an airtight biscuit tin.
Brands to compare
Verkade
The Verkade Nobo plain spritz biscuits listed by Albert Heijn are a 150 g variety.
- A good option if you’re specifically looking for a classic spritz biscuit without a chocolate coating.
- According to Albert Heijn, this plain variety contains milk and wheat and may contain nuts and sesame. Check the label if you have allergies.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists both butter-rich spritz biscuits and a wholemeal digestive in its own range.
- The product information lists 28% butter concentrate for AH Butter Spritz Biscuits and 37% wholemeal wheat flour for the AH Digestive. This lets you compare the ingredients in both types of biscuit.
- The AH Digestive contains wheat, so it isn’t suitable if you need a gluten-free variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a standard 400 g Digestive Wholemeal and a separate 165 g gluten-free digestive with milk chocolate.
- The separate varieties give you the choice between a standard wholemeal biscuit and a product labelled gluten-free.
- According to Jumbo, the gluten-free chocolate variety contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts. The standard wholemeal variety contains wheat.
Sondey (Lidl)
Lidl describes Sondey as a biscuit brand with a range of biscuits and cookies, including digestives.
- A brand worth looking at if you’re considering a digestive from the Sondey range.
- Features of the wider range don’t necessarily apply to every digestive. Read the label on the pack you choose.
Biscotto (ALDI)
ALDI lists both 400 g Digestive Biscuits and butter-rich spritz biscuits in plain and chocolate varieties under the Biscotto brand.
- You can browse both types of biscuit as separate product varieties.
- ALDI warns that special-buy products can sell out quickly. Check which variety is available in your store.
PLUS
PLUS lists a standard 400 g digestive and a separate variety with dark chocolate.
- The plain and chocolate varieties make flavour an easy first consideration.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety: the standard digestive and the chocolate variety don’t have the same ingredients.
Spritz biscuits and digestives on Joybuy
Here you’ll find three digestives, from plain to chocolate, and a spritz biscuit with milk chocolate. First choose the type of biscuit and variety you want. If you’re stocking up, compare the pack sizes too, and check the label if you have allergies.
Image unavailable
McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive for anyone who wants to keep or share a pack of biscuits in their student room.
400 g pack. If you have allergies, check the current label, particularly the information about wheat and the possible presence of milk.
Image unavailable
McVitie's Digestives with milk chocolate 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for anyone who fancies a chocolate variety with their coffee or tea.
266 g pack. If you have allergies, check the current label for milk, soya and wheat, among other things.
Image unavailable
McVitie's Digestives with dark chocolate 266 g
A digestive for anyone who prefers dark chocolate to milk chocolate on their biscuit.
266 g pack. If you have allergies, check the current label for milk, soya and wheat, among other things.
Image unavailable
Verkade Nobo Spritzed milk chocolate 150 g
A spritz biscuit with milk chocolate for anyone who’d rather have a spritz than a digestive with their coffee or tea.
150 g pack; consider whether that size suits how much you’ll eat or share. If you have allergies, check the current label, including any information about nuts and sesame.
Frequently asked questions
Does the name digestive tell you anything about what the biscuit does?
No, the name digestive on its own isn’t proof that the biscuit has an effect on digestion. Jumbo explicitly states that McVitie's Digestives Pure Chocolate contains no substances that promote digestion. Before you buy, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you’re choosing.
How do I compare the nutritional values of spritz biscuits and digestives?
Compare the fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g for the specific varieties. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis when comparing labels. Keep plain and chocolate varieties separate, and check the information per portion too if you wish.
How should I store an opened pack of biscuits in my student room?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal the pack properly after opening, or put the biscuits in an airtight tin. When choosing a pack size, think about how much you’ll eat yourself or share with housemates.
Can I rely on the gluten-free label for allergen information?
No, check the current packaging for all other allergens too, even on a gluten-free digestive. For example, Jumbo lists milk, oats and soya in its gluten-free digestive with milk chocolate, and warns that it may contain nuts.