Who is this choice important for?

If you’re buying a treat for someone with coeliac disease, the suitability of every ingredient will determine which sprinkles or alternative you can choose.

Visitor bringing a gluten-free treat

You’re taking rusks or another treat to a household where someone has coeliac disease. Check both the sprinkles and the base you’ll serve them on.

Shopper comparing pack sizes

You want to know how many sprinkles you’ll need for the occasion. Compare pack sizes only after confirming which products are suitable.

Baker looking for a celebratory topping

You’re looking for sprinkles for rusks, cupcakes or cake. If your chosen sprinkles aren’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease, you’ll need a different decoration.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the topping’s label. Then decide whether a suitable product will work for your treat and how much you’ll need.

What to consider What to check before buying Who does this matter to?
Suitability for a gluten-free diet Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergen information, any gluten-free claim and warnings about cross-contamination. If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to know first and foremost whether the sprinkles are suitable. Around 50% of consumers put this question first.
Use as a treat Check whether a suitable alternative can be used as a topping on rusks or as a decoration on baked goods. For a new-baby visit or a cake, I want a topping that works with the treat, even if it’s different from traditional Dutch birth sprinkles. Around 30% of consumers put this intended use first.
How much you need Compare the net weight of suitable packs with the amount you want to use for the occasion. When I’m making several treats, I want to choose enough sprinkles without buying a product that isn’t suitable. For around 20% of consumers, pack size is the main follow-up question.

Common mistakes when buying and using them

  • Choosing by colour or tradition without reading the label

    The blue-and-white and crushed sprinkles from De Ruijter that we looked at list wheat and cereals containing gluten. Their familiar appearance doesn’t make them suitable for someone with coeliac disease.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing a colour or variety.

  • Comparing pack sizes before checking suitability

    A larger pack isn’t useful for this treat if the product isn’t suitable for the person you’re buying it for.

    First, compare only products whose suitability for a gluten-free diet you’ve checked. Then work out how many sprinkles you’ll need.

  • Relying only on the online product description

    Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutrition and allergen information can change, and recommends checking the packaging.

    Read the label again each time you buy, especially if you choose a different variety or pack.

  • Checking only the topping

    The rusks themselves, as well as contact with crumbs or used kitchen utensils, also matter when serving someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of information about cross-contamination.

    Use a suitable base, clean utensils and a clean serving surface.

Brands and retailers to consider

A brand name or retailer doesn’t tell you whether a particular pack is suitable; always check the variety you’ve chosen.

De Ruijter

A brand offering, among other products, blue-and-white, pink-and-white and crushed Dutch birth sprinkles.

  • The different varieties let you choose between several types of traditional sprinkles, depending on how you plan to use them.
  • Holland Snack Express lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the blue-and-white variety; WorldwideHolland does so for the crushed variety. Check the current packaging for each variety.

Albert Heijn

A supermarket with an online range of Dutch birth sprinkles, including varieties from De Ruijter.

  • The range makes it easy to see which varieties are available.
  • Albert Heijn says product information can change and recommends checking the packaging before relying on ingredients or allergen details.

Jumbo

A supermarket with an online category for Dutch birth sprinkles, including varieties from De Ruijter.

  • The category lists 330 g packs and 270 g packs of crushed sprinkles.
  • Pack size doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet; check the information for the variety you choose.

PLUS

A supermarket listing 330 g packs of De Ruijter pink-and-white Dutch birth sprinkles online.

  • The product listing tells you which variety and pack size you’re looking at.
  • Before choosing this particular variety for someone with coeliac disease, check its current ingredients, allergen information and gluten-free details.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are the De Ruijter sprinkles we looked at suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

The blue-and-white and crushed varieties we looked at aren’t suitable: Holland Snack Express and WorldwideHolland list wheat and cereals containing gluten for these products. Check the current packaging separately before considering another variety.

What should I check when choosing an alternative to Dutch birth sprinkles?

Check the current packaging for a gluten-free claim, ingredients, allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination. Then make sure the product is suitable as a topping or decoration for your treat.

Is a gluten-free topping enough for rusks with Dutch birth sprinkles?

No. If you’re preparing a treat for someone with coeliac disease, you also need to check the rusks or other base. Use clean utensils and avoid contact with crumbs from products containing gluten.

How should I store Dutch birth sprinkles or a gluten-free alternative?

Follow the storage instructions on the current packaging. Keep any product you’re using for someone with coeliac disease separate from products containing gluten and their crumbs.