Don’t automatically buy the biggest pack of digestives for your cupboard. Choose the number of packs to suit how quickly you’ll use them and how you can store any biscuits once opened. A plain variety is a good choice for a simple store cupboard; choose wholemeal, 0% sugar or chocolate only if the flavour, nutritional information and ingredients of that specific variety suit your preferences.
You buy several packs for coffee, tea or a snack and want to know how many biscuits you’ll actually get through. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and ALDI list classic 400 g packs of digestives; Albert Heijn also lists a McVitie's multipack containing 2 × 400 g.
You like to buy ahead but don’t want an opened pack to go soft or stale. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.
You check fibre, sugars, salt, sweeteners and allergens before choosing several packs of the same variety. The plain and chocolate products reviewed differ in these respects, so check the label on the specific pack.
First work out how many packs you’ll use, then compare the storage advice and label for the variety you want to stock up on.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the amount in each pack with how quickly you’ll use it, and check how many individual packs you’re buying. | When I buy ahead, I want to use up the stock without opening too many packs at once. Getting the quantity right is a top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Storage after opening | Check the best-before date on each pack and follow the storage advice; seal any opened pack securely. | At home, I want opened biscuits to stay crisp while the unopened packs are waiting. Around 25% of consumers prioritise keeping products in good condition. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g; for a 0% sugar variety, check the sweeteners and any warnings too. | If I’m buying several packs of one variety, I want to know what the nutrition table says, not just what the front of the pack promises. This is the first thing around 25% of consumers consider. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety, even if you’ve bought it before. | If ingredients are important for my household, I need to check the right pack before stocking up. This check is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A 2 × 400 g pack gives you more in total than a single 400 g pack, but you’ll still need to use that amount at a pace that suits you.
Check the quantity and choose a number of individual packs you can use up and store.
Moisture or a poor seal can affect the quality of biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.
Open one pack at a time and use the best-before dates to make sure you eat older packs first.
Once opened, your stock needs a suitable place where it can be sealed away.
The product name doesn’t tell you which ingredients or nutritional values the variety contains.
Make your choice based on the flavour, ingredients list and nutrition table on the pack.
The ingredients and allergens differ between the products reviewed. Jumbo’s information for McVitie's milk chocolate digestives lists milk, soya and wheat.
Check the current label for each variety before buying several packs.
McVitie's offers 400 g packs of Digestives Original and, according to Albert Heijn, a pack containing 2 × 400 g. Chocolate varieties are also available.
Albert Heijn lists, among other options, a classic 400 g Digestive and a Digestive 0% sugar.
Jumbo lists classic and wholemeal digestives, both in 400 g packs.
ALDI lists Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as a 400 g own-brand product, containing around 27 biscuits.
Lidl lists a 400 g plain variety that is available in store only.
This selection includes a classic Digestive Original and two chocolate varieties. When stocking up, compare the pack weights shown and check how many packs are included in the sale unit when you buy.
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A plain variety for anyone who wants to keep classic digestives in the cupboard. The stated weight is 400 g; check the best-before date and how many packs are included in the sale unit.
If you have allergies, check the current label, paying particular attention to wheat and the statement about possible milk.
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For anyone who specifically wants to stock up on digestives with dark chocolate rather than a plain variety. The stated weight is 266 g; check the best-before date and the quantity in the sale unit.
If you have allergies, check the current label for wheat, milk and soya.
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For anyone looking for a digestive with milk chocolate. The stated weight is 266 g; check the nutritional information for this variety, as well as the best-before date and the quantity in the sale unit.
If you have allergies, check the current label for wheat, milk and soya.
Choose an amount that suits how quickly you’ll use them and the space you have to store them, rather than looking only at the total quantity. Check the best-before dates on the packs and remember that opened packs need to be sealed securely.
Store them in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. This is the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage advice for biscuits; also follow the instructions on the packaging for your variety.
The term wholemeal doesn’t tell you everything else in the nutrition table. For the wholemeal variety reviewed, Jumbo lists 5.8 g of fibre, 19.3 g of sugars and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g; compare these figures with the variety you might otherwise choose.
Read the allergen information for the specific variety. The classic products reviewed contain wheat; the McVitie's milk chocolate variety reviewed lists milk, soya and wheat. If you buy a product again, don’t rely solely on a label you read previously.
Check the packaging of the pack you’re planning to buy before choosing several. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that the label provides information about ingredients and allergens; if you have questions about a specific variety, you can contact the producer or importer listed on the pack.
