Who is this choice for?

Those comparing fibre and sugar

You’re looking for an afternoon biscuit and want to compare its nutritional value, rather than relying on terms such as digestive or wholemeal.

Fans of a classic coffee break

You’re mainly after a syrup waffle with a syrup filling, perhaps to enjoy with a cup of hot coffee or tea.

Anyone checking gluten or allergens

You need to check whether a specific product suits your dietary requirements. Even with a gluten-free syrup waffle, it’s important to check for other allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a classic syrup waffle or a digestive biscuit. Then compare the nutritional information for each product. If you need to avoid gluten or have an allergy, always check the current label.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fibre and sugar Compare the fibre and sugar per 100 g, and check the serving size too. Albert Heijn lists 6 g of fibre and 20 g of sugar per 100 g for AH Digestive volkoren. I want to weigh up fibre and sugar in my afternoon biscuit without relying on the word digestive. Around 42% of consumers give this comparison top priority.
Syrup filling and texture Check whether you’re choosing a classic syrup waffle or a biscuit, and what portion suits your coffee break. PLUS lists a 50% syrup filling for the Daelmans syrup waffle we looked at. With coffee or tea, I’m mainly looking for the syrup filling and texture of a classic syrup waffle; this is the priority for around 33% of consumers.
Gluten and allergens If you need a gluten-free product, check that it is explicitly labelled as such. Also read the full allergen information on the current packaging. If I need to avoid gluten or certain allergens, I want to know whether this specific product suits my needs. For around 25% of consumers, this is the main reason for their choice.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming digestive biscuits are low in calories

    The word digestive doesn’t tell you how much energy a biscuit contains. More fibre and less sugar in one product we compared doesn’t mean it’s better overall nutritionally.

    As well as fibre and sugar, check the energy, fat and serving size on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the ingredients list and nutrition table for snacks, rather than looking only at the front of the pack.

  • Focusing only on ‘0% sugar’

    Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption of AH Digestive 0% suiker may have a laxative effect. This product contains polyols.

    Check the ingredients and information about polyols for this biscuit too, and take the serving size into account when making your choice.

  • Assuming gluten-free means less sugar

    A gluten-free label says nothing by itself about the sugar content. Jumbo lists 42.4 g of sugar per 100 g for Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels.

    Check for a gluten-free label if you need one, but compare sugar, fibre and other ingredients separately.

  • Guessing the allergens from the type of product

    A gluten-free syrup waffle isn’t automatically free from other allergens. Ingredients can also vary between standard biscuit products.

    If you have an allergy, read the current ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on labels.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Daelmans

The classic syrup waffle we looked at is for anyone after a waffle with a syrup filling to enjoy with coffee or tea.

  • PLUS lists a 50% syrup filling and 1.5 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • If fibre is a priority for you, compare the nutritional information and check the allergens listed on the packaging.

Albert Heijn

The range includes the wholemeal digestive biscuit we looked at, as well as a product called AH Digestive 0% suiker.

  • AH Digestive volkoren lists 37% wholemeal wheat flour, 6 g of fibre and 20 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the information about polyols on the packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both classic syrup waffles and Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Stroop Wafels.

  • The gluten-free product we looked at is labelled as such and lists 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • That same product lists 42.4 g of sugar per 100 g; check for other allergens too.

PLUS

PLUS stocks classic and gluten-free syrup waffles that we looked at.

  • The classic PLUS syrup waffle lists 36.3 g of sugar and 0.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The gluten-free PLUS product we looked at lists 41.13 g of sugar and 2.88 g of fibre per 100 g. So compare products on more than just their gluten-free label.

Sondey (Lidl)

Lidl describes the Sondey product we looked at as butter syrup waffles with caramel.

  • Lidl lists the standard pack as containing 12 waffles and weighing 480 g.
  • If you’re choosing based on nutritional value or allergens, check the information on the specific pack.

KANJERS / ALDI

ALDI lists KANJERS syrup waffles in packs ranging from 180 to 320 g.

  • The pack sizes listed can help you decide how many waffles you’d like to buy.
  • To compare ingredients, nutritional value or allergens, check the label on the pack you choose.

A digestive biscuit on Joybuy

This standard digestive biscuit is an option if you’d like to compare a biscuit with syrup waffles, looking at serving size, fibre and sugar.

McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g pack

McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g

A standard digestive biscuit for anyone who wants to compare its nutritional information with that of a syrup waffle.

Joybuy lists 3.7 g of fibre and 15.1 g of sugar per 100 g, with a serving size of one 14.7 g biscuit.

If you need to avoid gluten or milk, check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a digestive biscuit automatically a better choice than a syrup waffle?

No. The word digestive doesn’t determine which nutritional factors matter most to you. For the AH Digestive volkoren we looked at, Albert Heijn lists 6 g of fibre and 20 g of sugar per 100 g; PLUS lists 1.5 g of fibre per 100 g for the Daelmans syrup waffle we looked at. Compare the rest of the nutritional information and your usual serving size too.

What should I look for in a digestive biscuit labelled ‘0% sugar’?

Check the sweeteners and any warnings on the packaging too. For AH Digestive 0% suiker, Albert Heijn lists polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Can I choose a standard syrup waffle if I need to avoid gluten?

Don’t assume that a standard syrup waffle is gluten-free. If you need a gluten-free product, choose one that is explicitly labelled as such, and check for other allergens on the current packaging too.

Where can I find allergen information on packaged biscuits?

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the label of the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly and correctly shown on the label. Check the information again if the packaging changes.