Which option is right for you?

Start by thinking about what you want from your biscuit: a familiar spritz biscuit, nutritional information you can compare, or a pack that meets your dietary requirements.

Fans of classic spritz biscuits

You’re looking for the crumbly texture of a spritz biscuit as a sweet part of your breakfast or to enjoy with a coffee. Fibre isn’t your main consideration.

Those comparing nutritional information

You want to compare the fibre, sugars, saturates and salt in biscuits per 100 g. You wouldn’t automatically assume a plain digestive has the same ingredients as a wholemeal variety.

Readers checking ingredients and allergens

For you, it’s the current label that determines whether a biscuit is suitable. Wheat, milk and soya may be relevant, as may warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.

What to look for in spritz biscuits and digestives

First decide whether you’re mainly after the taste of a spritz biscuit or want to compare the ingredients in biscuits. If an ingredient or allergen is a deal-breaker for you, check the packaging before choosing based on taste or nutritional value. For the foundations of an everyday breakfast, the Voedingscentrum recommends foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fibre and ingredients Compare fibre, sugars, saturates and salt per 100 g; also check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. If I have a biscuit with breakfast, I want to see how a plain variety compares with a wholemeal one. Around 34% of consumers put fibre and ingredients first.
Spritz biscuits and texture Check whether you’re buying a spritz biscuit or a digestive, and look at the ingredients in the variety you’ve chosen. I’m specifically looking for a familiar, crumbly spritz biscuit for a sweet treat, not just any biscuit. For around 33% of consumers, that classic biscuit experience is what matters most.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current label for wheat, gluten and other relevant allergens; if you avoid gluten, make sure the packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the packaging must meet my requirements first. Checking the label is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every digestive is wholemeal

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Digestive contains 3.2 g of fibre per 100 g, while AH Digestive Volkoren contains 6 g. The wholemeal variety also lists 20 g of sugars per 100 g. So the word ‘digestive’ alone doesn’t tell you what nutritional values are on the pack.

    Compare plain and wholemeal biscuits per 100 g, and check which types of flour appear in the ingredients.

  • Thinking of a biscuit as the whole breakfast

    A spritz biscuit or digestive can be a sweet part of your breakfast. For the foundations of an everyday breakfast, the Voedingscentrum recommends foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five.

    Think about the biscuit alongside the rest of your breakfast, such as fruit, yoghurt with porridge oats or wholemeal bread.

  • Relying on the word ‘digestive’ when checking for allergens

    The plain digestives reviewed contain wheat. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Schär Digestive Landtaler, which is labelled gluten-free, contains soya and may contain egg and lupin.

    Every time you buy, check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging.

Brands and product ranges compared

These examples can help you compare specific products. The features listed don’t necessarily apply to every biscuit from the same brand.

Verkade

Nobo spritz biscuits are worth considering if you’re looking for a classic spritz.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Nobo spritz biscuit reviewed contains 1.1 g of fibre and 24 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This spritz biscuit contains milk and wheat; check the packaging if you need to avoid these ingredients.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive and AH Digestive Volkoren show why it’s worth comparing plain and wholemeal biscuits separately.

  • Albert Heijn lists 3.2 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Digestive and 6 g for AH Digestive Volkoren.
  • The wholemeal variety lists 20 g of sugars per 100 g. Also check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s plain and wholemeal digestives give you two varieties to compare for fibre.

  • Jumbo lists 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g for Krokante Digestive and 5.8 g for Digestive Volkoren.
  • The varieties reviewed contain wheat and gluten; being labelled wholemeal doesn’t make a biscuit gluten-free.

Schär

Digestive Landtaler is an option to consider if you need a product that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free.

  • Albert Heijn labels the Schär Digestive Landtaler reviewed as gluten-free and wheat-free.
  • The product contains soya and may contain egg and lupin. So check the full allergen information on this variety too.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a digestive always contain more fibre than a spritz biscuit?

Not all digestives contain the same amount of fibre. Albert Heijn lists 1.1 g of fibre per 100 g for the Nobo spritz biscuit reviewed, compared with 3.2 g for AH Digestive and 6 g for AH Digestive Volkoren. So compare the nutritional information on the packs you’re actually considering.

Can I choose a plain digestive if I need to avoid gluten?

If you need to avoid gluten, don’t rely on the word ‘digestive’: the plain varieties reviewed contain wheat. Check that the pack you choose explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, and read the other ingredients and allergen information too.

Where can I find allergen information on a packet of biscuits?

Check the current packaging, including the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority provides guidance on labelling 14 allergens. For these biscuits, pay particular attention to any ingredients that are relevant to you, such as wheat, milk or soya.

How should I store spritz biscuits or digestives once opened?

Seal the pack tightly after opening and follow the storage advice on the packaging. Keeping the biscuits in a sealed pack or tin will help keep them dry.