Why is Plain chocolate digestive biscuits classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The biscuits are made from refined wheat flour, added sugars, cocoa ingredients and several chemical leavening agents, all of which require industrial processing steps; the label lists three additives: emulsifier E322 (soy lecithins), raising agent E500/E500ii (sodium bicarbonate) and raising agent E503/E503ii (ammonium hydrogen carbonate).

How does the sugar and salt content in these biscuits affect a diabetic or hypertensive diet?

With 24.7 g of sugar per 100 g, the product can cause a rapid rise in blood glucose and should be limited by people with diabetes, while the 0.57 g of salt is relatively low compared with many snacks but still contributes to overall sodium intake, so hypertensive individuals should monitor total daily consumption.

Is the wheat flour in these biscuits a concern for people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease?

Yes, the ingredient list includes wheat flour, which contains gluten, making the biscuits unsuitable for anyone with gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or a wheat allergy.

Tesco

Plain chocolate digestive biscuits

Sugary Snacks

Product Insights

Tesco’s Plain chocolate digestive biscuits are a sweet snack belonging to the “Sugary snacks” and “Biscuits and cakes” groups. They carry a Nutri‑Score of E and fall into NOVA 4, reflecting their ultra‑processed nature; per 100 g they contain 24.7 g of sugars, 23.5 g of fat (12.3 g saturated), 0.57 g of salt, 4.1 g of fiber and 6.6 g of protein. The biscuits list gluten‑containing wheat flour and soy‑derived lecithins as allergens, include three additives (E322, E500/E500ii, E503/E503ii), and are marketed as having no artificial preservatives.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

high

Saturated Fat

high

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 g/ml

Energy Kcal499 kcal

Fat23.5 g

Saturated Fat12.3 g

Carbohydrates63.3 g

Sugars24.7 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average snack in its category, the biscuits have less sugar (24.7 g vs 28.98 g) but markedly more total fat (23.5 g vs 17.65 g) and saturated fat (12.3 g vs 7.8 g), while their salt level (0.57 g) is well below the average (1.98 g).

Ingredients

Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour. Calcium. Folic Acid. Iron, Niacin, Thiamin]. Dark Chocolate (30%) [Sugar, Cocoa Mass. Cocoa Butter, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithins)]. Palm O, Sugar. Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup. Raising Agents (Sodium Bicarbonate. Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate). Salt. Dark Chocolate contains: Cocoa solids 48% minimums Allergy Advice

84%

35%

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