If you’re looking for a demonstrably lower-sugar option
A smaller portion isn’t the same as a low-sugar product. According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, the standard birth sprinkles reviewed list 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you shop strictly vegan
For pink-and-white birth sprinkles, the colouring is decisive: Albert Heijn lists carmine in the ingredients. The Vegan Society explains that carmine comes from cochineal insects. Check the exact variety even if you’re considering a different colour.
If you’re also checking for wheat and gluten
Being suitable for vegans doesn’t tell you anything about allergens. The ingredient lists for the pink-and-white and blue-and-white birth sprinkles reviewed include wheat starch, so check the allergen information on the packaging separately.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how much you want to reduce sugar; then check the colouring and allergens for the exact variety of birth sprinkles.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing sugar | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and assess any sugar claim separately. Voedingscentrum sets a maximum of 5 g per 100 g for ‘low sugar’. | If you’re looking for a product with less sugar, you won’t want a smaller portion to be presented as a low-sugar alternative; demonstrable sugar reduction is the top priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Vegan ingredients | Read the information on colourings and check that the exact variety is labelled vegan; the absence of carmine alone isn’t enough to confirm this. | For a strictly vegan celebration, you won’t want to use animal-derived colouring, even if the colour suits the occasion; vegan ingredients are the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Wheat and gluten | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, regardless of any vegan claims. | If wheat or gluten is a deciding factor for you, the allergen information needs to match your requirements; this check comes first for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing using fewer sprinkles with choosing a low-sugar product
A smaller portion contains less sugar per serving, but it doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g. The standard varieties reviewed list 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
If you’re aiming to reduce sugar, compare the nutritional information per 100 g rather than looking only at how much you use.
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Assuming pink-and-white sprinkles are vegan
The ingredients listed by Albert Heijn for pink-and-white De Ruijter birth sprinkles include carmine, a colouring that The Vegan Society says comes from cochineal insects.
Check the colouring on the packaging for the exact variety; don’t go by the colour or product name alone.
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Assuming vegan means gluten-free
The ingredient lists reviewed for the pink-and-white and blue-and-white varieties include wheat starch. A vegan label therefore doesn’t tell you whether a product contains wheat or gluten.
Check vegan suitability and allergen information separately, using the current packaging.
A relevant brand to consider
De Ruijter
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list De Ruijter birth sprinkles in several varieties, including pink-and-white, blue-and-white and crushed.
- You can compare the ingredients and nutritional information for each of these varieties.
- The varieties reviewed list 79 g of sugars per 100 g. The pink-and-white variety contains carmine; check the vegan suitability of other varieties separately.
Products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are the De Ruijter birth sprinkles reviewed low in sugar?
No. The product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for the pink-and-white, blue-and-white and crushed varieties reviewed. Voedingscentrum sets a maximum of 5 g per 100 g for a ‘low sugar’ claim.
Are pink-and-white birth sprinkles suitable for a strictly vegan choice?
Not if the variety contains carmine. Albert Heijn lists this colouring in the pink-and-white birth sprinkles reviewed; The Vegan Society says carmine comes from cochineal insects. Check the ingredients on the packaging you buy.
How should I store birth sprinkles after buying them?
Store birth sprinkles in a dry place and follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging. Before using them, check the ingredients and allergen information again if these are important to your choice.