Hotelier planning a birth or celebration breakfast
Wants to mark the occasion with sprinkles for rusk, bread or yoghurt. Jumbo describes these uses for De Ruijter birth sprinkles.
Who is this choice for?
Buffet manager
Needs to arrange how guests can access allergen information as well as plan the presentation. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must also be available for unpackaged products served in the hospitality sector.
Buyer looking for a chocolate gift
Wants a separate gift for a guest or business contact. Birth sprinkles aren’t a chocolate product and won’t serve this purpose: the pink and white variety described by Jumbo contains, among other things, sugar-coated aniseed.
What should you consider?
First decide whether the product is for the breakfast buffet or as a separate gift. If you’re serving it at the buffet, make sure guests know how to find the allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen.
Birth sprinkles for the breakfast buffet
A good fit when: you want the breakfast to mark a birth or another special occasion.
Consider: birth sprinkles are for the buffet, not a box of chocolates to give as a gift.
A box of chocolates as a gift
A good fit when: you want to give a guest or business contact a separate chocolate gift.
Consider: a box of chocolates doesn’t replace the traditional role of birth sprinkles on rusk.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Occasion | For a birth breakfast, choose a suitable colour; for a more general celebration, consider a different variety. Jumbo and Albert Heijn list De Ruijter birth sprinkles in pink and white, blue and white, celebration and crushed varieties. | For a birth breakfast, I want guests to recognise the occasion at the buffet. Around 25% of consumers put this celebratory touch first. |
| Allergen information | Check the label on the variety you’ve bought and make the information accessible to guests. Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the pink and white De Ruijter birth sprinkles. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says guests must be able to find out about any allergens present before ordering. | For self-service, I want to be able to tell guests clearly which allergens the product contains. Around 42% of consumers say this information is their top priority. |
| Gift format | For a box of chocolates, check the packaging, ingredients and allergens, and make sure the format works as a complete gift or for giving one to each guest. | A gift for a guest should be chocolate, not sprinkles for rusk. Around 33% of consumers choose primarily based on the gift format and chocolate. |
Common mistakes
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Ordering birth sprinkles when a chocolate gift has been requested
A breakfast topping serves a different purpose from a box of chocolates for a guest or business contact.
Before ordering, decide whether the product is for the buffet or to be given as an individual gift.
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Choosing birth sprinkles based on colour alone
When serving unpackaged food at a breakfast buffet, you also need to provide information about any allergens present. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority gives signs and menus as examples of ways to share this information.
Check the packaging for the variety you’ve chosen and make sure guests can access the allergen information before ordering.
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Assuming a variety shown is always part of the range
The variety and pack size you actually order matter when planning the buffet presentation.
Check the variety, pack size and current product information with your chosen shop or online retailer before preparing the buffet labels.
A brand to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter is a brand to consider for birth sprinkles at a Dutch birth or celebration breakfast. Its inclusion here doesn’t mean that a particular variety is available from any specific shop.
- Jumbo and Albert Heijn list De Ruijter birth sprinkles in pink and white, blue and white, celebration and crushed varieties.
- Birth sprinkles aren’t a chocolate gift. Also check the allergens for the variety you choose: Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the pink and white variety.
Products for the buffet and as gifts
The birth sprinkles below are suited to a celebratory breakfast topping; the chocolate assortments are options if you’re looking for a separate gift. If you’re serving anything at the buffet, always check the packaging and allergen information for the product you’re actually offering.
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De Ruijter blue and white birth sprinkles, 330 g
For a breakfast where the colour of the sprinkles is part of the celebratory display.
Check the allergens on the packaging before serving the sprinkles unpackaged at the buffet.
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De Ruijter pink birth sprinkles, 330 g
For a birth breakfast where pink sprinkles suit the presentation.
Check the current ingredients and allergens for this variety before serving it at the buffet.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate assortment to consider if you’re looking for a separate thank-you gift.
Check the packaging if you want to hand out chocolates to individual guests. If you’re serving them at the buffet, also check the current allergen information.
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Lindt Lindor Cornet Assorted, 200 g
A chocolate assortment for anyone looking for a gift rather than birth sprinkles for breakfast.
Check the packaging if you need individual portions, and consult the allergen information before serving the product at a buffet.
Frequently asked questions
Are birth sprinkles the same as a box of chocolates?
No. The pink and white De Ruijter birth sprinkles described by Jumbo contain ingredients including sugar and aniseed, and are used as a topping. Choose a box of chocolates if the requested gift is chocolate.
Does a hotel need to provide allergen information for unpackaged birth sprinkles on the buffet?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says businesses must inform consumers about any allergens present in unpackaged food too, before purchase or ordering. Check the information on the packaging you’ve chosen and make it accessible to guests, for example on a buffet label.
Which allergens should I check for in De Ruijter birth sprinkles?
Check the allergens for the exact variety you’re serving. Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the pink and white De Ruijter birth sprinkles; don’t assume the same applies to every other variety without checking.
How should I store birth sprinkles for the breakfast buffet?
Store the crushed De Ruijter birth sprinkles in a dry place, as Jumbo advises for this variety. Also follow the use-by or best-before date and any additional storage instructions on the packaging you’ve actually bought.