Families planning a treat
If you’re expecting visitors or getting together for coffee during the holidays, you may want a familiar, sweet biscuit. A syrup waffle fits the occasion, without needing to be an everyday snack.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People comparing both types of biscuit
You want to look beyond the product name and compare the ingredients, sugars, fibre and portion size of the specific syrup waffle and digestive you’re considering.
People who need to check allergens
If someone needs to avoid wheat, milk, soya or other ingredients, the information on the current packaging is what matters. Even if a biscuit is labelled gluten-free, you’ll still need to check for other allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a filled treat or a plain biscuit. Then check the ingredients and the size of the pack you actually plan to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Treat flavour or plain biscuit | Decide whether you want a syrup filling or a biscuit without one. Tell plain varieties apart from biscuits with chocolate. | For a planned coffee break, I want the familiar syrup filling. That treat-like flavour is the deciding factor for around 46% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the exact product, including the allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination. | If someone in the group needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in this pack. That check comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Portion size and sharing | Compare the number of biscuits and see whether a duo, mini or larger pack suits your plans. | For a day out, I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take and how to share them; around 18% of consumers put portion size first. |
Common mistakes
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Taking the name ‘digestive’ as nutritional advice
The name doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable as an everyday snack. PLUS lists different sugar and fibre values for its plain digestive and its syrup waffles, but both are biscuits.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g as well as the portion size for the exact product. For everyday snacks for children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options including fruit and vegetables.
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Checking only the front of the pack for allergens
A standard syrup waffle or digestive may contain allergens. Even with a gluten-free variety, other ingredients or warnings may be relevant.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy, even if you’ve previously bought a different size or flavour from the same brand.
Brands to compare
Daelmans
Syrup waffles for a classic treat, including a pack of ten and a duo pack at PLUS.
- The syrup waffle described by PLUS has a filling that is 50% syrup.
- The original variety described contains wheat, milk and soya. Check the packaging if you need to avoid allergens.
Albert Heijn
Stocks syrup waffles and various digestives, as well as a syrup waffle variety labelled gluten-free.
- The different product types make it easy to compare syrup waffles and biscuits separately.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information can change. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Offers classic syrup waffles and several types of digestive, including wholemeal biscuits and chocolate biscuits.
- You can choose from different types in both biscuit categories.
- A chocolate digestive is not the same as a plain digestive. Compare their ingredients and nutritional information separately.
PLUS
Stocks its own syrup waffles and a plain digestive, as well as Daelmans syrup waffles.
- Per 100 g, PLUS lists 17 g of sugars and 3,3 g of fibre for its Digestive biscuit, compared with 36,3 g of sugars and 0,8 g of fibre for its syrup waffles.
- These figures apply to the varieties listed, not to every digestive or syrup waffle.
Heerlijck Banket / ALDI
ALDI offers standard and mini syrup waffles from Heerlijck Banket.
- The standard pack shown contains 12 biscuits; the mini variety comes in a different size for sharing.
- If you have dietary requirements or allergies, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose.
Sondey / Lidl
Lidl offers standard and mini butter syrup waffles under the Sondey brand.
- The two sizes shown give you the choice of a treat at home or smaller biscuits to take with you.
- For ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for food products, Lidl refers customers to the packaging.
Products for different snack occasions
This selection of Joybuy products includes a plain digestive, two classic syrup waffles and two chocolate digestives. Choose according to the occasion, and compare the packaging and nutritional information for the variety you select.
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McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive to consider as an unfilled biscuit alongside a syrup waffle.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the label of the pack you choose.
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Kanjers Original Syrup Waffles, 8 biscuits
A classic syrup waffle for a planned treat.
Pack size: 8 biscuits. Check the ingredients on the label and decide in advance how many you want to serve.
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Kanjers Extra Delicious Syrup Waffles, 10 biscuits
A variety of syrup waffle for a treat you can share with several people.
Pack size: 10 biscuits. Check the net weight on the packaging if you’re comparing the quantity with another variety.
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McVitie's Digestives with dark chocolate 266 g
A digestive with dark chocolate for anyone looking for a chocolate variety rather than a plain biscuit.
Pack size: 266 g. Compare the nutritional information for this variety separately from that of a plain digestive.
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McVitie's Digestives with milk chocolate 266 g
A digestive with milk chocolate for a sweet snack. It’s not the same variety as a plain digestive.
Pack size: 266 g. Read the ingredients and nutritional information for this exact chocolate variety.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digestive automatically a better choice than a syrup waffle?
No. The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable as a snack. Per 100 g, PLUS lists 17 g of sugars and 3,3 g of fibre for its plain Digestive biscuit, compared with 36,3 g of sugars and 0,8 g of fibre for its syrup waffles. Also compare the portion size and other nutritional information for the exact products.
What should I look for if someone needs to avoid gluten or other allergens?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the product you want to buy. The Daelmans syrup waffle described contains wheat, milk and soya; Schär Digestive Landtaler, which is labelled gluten-free, contains soya and may contain lupin and egg. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
How should I store syrup waffles and digestives after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. Daelmans recommends storing its syrup waffles in a cool, dry, dark place; Jumbo recommends sealing its dark chocolate digestives well after opening and storing them in a dark place.