Organisers counting out portions
If each attendee is to receive one retail pack, the McVitie's mini multipack gives you five 19g portions to count per multipack, according to Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries.
Who is each format for?
Organisers handling allergen information
ASDA Groceries lists milk, wheat and soya for the McVitie's 5 x 19g product. Check the pack being offered against the school's policy, and keep its ingredient information available at the stall.
Helpers supervising a shared table
A mini digestive pouch is an option only if helpers can retain its ingredient information and serve it with separate utensils. Tesco Groceries lists a peanut-and-nut precautionary statement for its 90g pouch.
What should you check before buying?
Individual mini packs
Choose when: You need to count out portions and hand out biscuits without opening a shared pouch at the stall.
Bear in mind: The McVitie's 5 x 19g product contains milk, wheat and soya, and each multipack provides five portions.
Mini digestive sharing pouch
Choose when: Helpers can supervise serving and keep the original ingredient information beside the food.
Bear in mind: Loose serving calls for separate utensils; Tesco Groceries also lists a peanut-and-nut precautionary statement for its 90g pouch.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portions | Count the packs or decide how a pouch will be served. Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries list five 19g packs in the McVitie's multipack. | I want to plan how many servings to bring without dividing biscuits at the stall. |
| Allergens | Read the current pack's ingredients and precautionary statements, then check the school's policy. ASDA Groceries lists milk, wheat and soya for the McVitie's multipack; Tesco Groceries says its 90g pouch may contain peanuts and nuts. | The biscuits must meet the event's allergen rules, and I need information I can give to helpers and attendees. |
| Serving controls | For an opened pouch, plan separate serving utensils and keep ingredient information with the biscuits. Anaphylaxis UK also advises separating items intended for people with allergies. | At a busy shared table, I need a way to serve each product without mixing utensils or losing its label. |
What can complicate a school sale?
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Assuming bite-sized means suitable for everyone
ASDA Groceries lists milk, wheat and soya for McVitie's 5 x 19g chocolate mini digestives. Their size does not change those ingredients.
Check the physical pack and the school's allergy policy before ordering or offering them.
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Overlooking a “may contain” statement
Tesco Groceries says its 90g mini digestive pouch may contain peanuts and nuts. It should not be presented as nut-free.
Compare the full statement on the pack with the event's requirements before choosing a pouch.
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Putting loose biscuits on a mixed-food table
Shared areas and utensils can transfer traces between foods, even when the original packs were correctly labelled.
Follow Anaphylaxis UK's advice to separate items intended for people with allergies, use different utensils and retain ingredient information.
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Planning from a listing rather than the pack
Stock and pack information can differ by the time of the sale. Tesco Groceries showed its 90g mini pouch and McVitie's 6 x 25g multipack as out of stock when the listings were checked.
Confirm availability in time to make another plan, and read the label on the product you actually obtain.
Which brand and retailer products are relevant?
McVitie's
Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries list a 5 x 19g milk-chocolate mini digestive multipack. Tesco Groceries also lists a separate 6 x 25g mini format.
- The 5 x 19g format gives a count of five retail portions per multipack.
- ASDA Groceries lists milk, wheat and soya for the 5 x 19g product; Tesco Groceries lists a nut precautionary statement for the separate 6 x 25g format.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists an own-label 90g mini half-coated digestive pouch intended for sharing.
- A pouch allows supervised serving when helpers can keep its ingredient information beside it.
- The listing says the pouch may contain peanuts and nuts. Check its current pack and availability before planning to use it.
Asda
ASDA Groceries lists the McVitie's 5 x 19g mini multipack and a separate ASDA 400g standard digestive biscuit product.
- Its McVitie's listing specifies five 19g packs and identifies milk, wheat and soya as allergens.
- The ASDA 400g digestive is not a mini format; its listing says it contains wheat and may contain milk.
Portioned snack alternatives on Joybuy
These biscuits and wafers are alternatives to consider for portioned serving, not mini digestives. Check each product's format and current allergen label against the school's requirements before treating it as a substitute.
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Cadbury Mini Animals Biscuits 99.5g
These mini animal biscuits are not digestives. If you plan to hand out unopened portions, check the pack format and its wheat and milk allergen information before buying.
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Kinder Happy Hippo Milk and Hazelnut Biscuits 5 x 20.7g
The stated 5 x 20.7g format gives you five units to account for, but these are not digestives. Check the current pack's wrapping and allergen declaration, particularly against any school rules concerning nuts.
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Kiddylicious Blueberry Wafers 6+ Months 4 x 4g
These four 4g wafer packs are labelled for ages 6+ months and are not digestive biscuits. Consider whether a weaning snack fits this school event, and check the physical pack's ingredients and allergens before offering it.
Questions about portions and allergens
Are McVitie's chocolate mini digestives suitable for a gluten-free bake sale?
No. The McVitie's 5 x 19g product listed by Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries contains wheat; ASDA Groceries also identifies milk and soya as allergens. Check the current pack and the school's policy for any product offered instead.
How many portions are in the McVitie's 5 x 19g multipack?
Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries list five 19g snack packs per multipack. Count one pack as one retail portion when working out how many multipacks the event needs.
How should a stall serve loose biscuits alongside other foods?
Keep the biscuits' ingredient information with them and use separate serving utensils. Anaphylaxis UK also advises separating items intended for people with allergies and taking care with hands and shared serving areas.
Can a mini digestive pouch take the place of individual packs?
A pouch can suit a supervised table if helpers can manage serving and keep its allergen information available; it does not provide individually packed handouts. Tesco Groceries says its 90g mini pouch may contain peanuts and nuts, so check that statement against the event's requirements before choosing it.