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Home Ā» Gluten Free Information Ā» Gluten-Free Sprinkles? I Tested 4 Brands of Sprinkles for Hidden Gluten

Gluten-Free Sprinkles? I Tested 4 Brands of Sprinkles for Hidden Gluten

Last Updated March 23, 2023. Published November 17, 2022 Good For You Gluten Free

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Gluten-Free Sprinkles? I Tested 4 Brands of Sprinkles for Hidden Gluten

If you’ve been in the gluten-free community long enough, you know that there aren’t any certified gluten-free sprinkles, and none of the mainstream brands are labeled gluten free. I created this article to help you identify which brands you can – and cannot – trust when searching for elusive gluten-free sprinkles. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.

Sprinkles – or jimmies – make everything more fun and colorful, but there’s a dark side to sprinkles for the gluten-free community.

None of the mainstream brands of sprinkles are certified gluten free, and none are even labeled gluten free.

When a brand labels a product “gluten free,” it must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats. People with celiac disease, wheat allergies, and gluten intolerance must avoid gluten for medical reasons.

In this article, I researched the mainstream brands of sprinkles to see what each has to say about gluten. I also independently test each brand for hidden gluten using my Nima Sensor, a portable gluten-detecting device that enables you to test a small portion of food for hidden gluten.

Ingredients Found in Sprinkles

Before I share what the leading brands say about gluten in their sprinkles, I want to share with you what ingredients are typically used to make them.

As you can see, most sprinkles should be gluten free, and are not typically made with wheat or other gluten-containing ingredients.

Most sprinkles are made from corn syrup, sugar, cornstarch, wax, and artificial flavors and colors. They’re also sprayed with food coloring and a sugar glaze.

The main issue, however, is that sprinkles are often made in manufacturing facilities where there is a risk of cross-contamination with wheat or other gluten contaminants. This is why many brands are reluctant to label their sprinkles as “gluten free.”

Are Alma’s Sprinkles Gluten Free?

Walmart exclusively carries a large variety of Alma’s sprinkles, and my daughter wanted to buy them because they’re so pretty. I purchased the sprinkle mix, which includes sprinkles and various candies in different colors and shapes.

I have searched far and wide for more information about these sprinkles online, but it appears this company has no online presence. I found an Instagram account and sent them a message to tell them that my Nima Sensor tester found gluten, and I was wondering if they had a statement. I will update this article when and if they get back to me.

In the meantime, as I hinted, Alma’s sprinkles contain gluten, according to my Nima Sensor. It is not safe for people on a gluten-free diet to consume.

Alma sprinkle mix with gluten found message on nima sensor

Are Betty Crocker Sprinkles Gluten Free?

While Betty Crocker sprinkles, nonpareils, and flavored sugars aren’t labeled gluten free on the packaging, according to the Betty Crocker website, they are gluten free.

Betty Crocker says its sprinkles are “Produced on a dedicated line that does not process peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, milk, or eggs.”

I independently tested both the Parlor Perfect Rainbow Sprinkles and Chocolate Sprinkles for hidden gluten with my Nima Sensor, and Nima didn’t find gluten in either test sample.

betty crocker rainbow sprinkles with smiley face nima sensor
betty crocker chocolate sprinkles with smiley face nima sensor

Are Cake Mate Sprinkles Gluten Free?

Cake Mate sprinkles are gluten free. According to the company, “None of our products contain wheat or gluten. This includes Cake Mate decorating sprinkles, sugar shapes, sugar crystals, nonpareils, decorating gels, gems, food color, decorating icing in the pressurized can, easy squeeze pouch, and plastic tube gels.”

cake mate sprinkles

Are Wilton Sprinkles Gluten Free?

According to Wilton’s website, the company does not label any of its products as gluten free. Still, it says it will disclose if a product contains wheat, one of the top eight allergens required by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA).

Wilton also acknowledges that some of its manufacturing facilities may produce gluten-containing foods, so there is always a risk of cross-contamination.

Wilton says, “To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, allergen plans and protocols are in place at all facilities where Wilton products are manufactured.”

I independently tested Wilton’s sprinkles for hidden gluten with my Nima Sensor. A smile means Nima didn’t find any gluten, while a wheat symbol means it found gluten.

Wilton green sprinkles with smiley face nima sensor

Are Pillsbury Funfetti Sprinkles Gluten Free?

If you purchase Pillsbury Confetti Funfetti icing, you’ll notice that they come with sprinkles and candy bits.

Such packages of icing are labeled “gluten free,” meaning both the icing and candy pieces would be gluten free.

funfetti icing and sprinkles are gluten free
pillsbury funfetti labeled gluten free

Specialty Brands of Gluten-Free Sprinkles

Sweetapolita: Sweetapolita says its sprinkles and sprinkle medleys are gluten free and contain no gluten. The company says its products are “suitable for those with celiac disease” and that they contain no wheat. They add that any trace amounts of gluten found in the sprinkles are “notably” less than 20 ppm.

Unfortunately, Sweetapolita products are not found in mainstream stores, so you’ll need to order them online. Fortunately, they ship worldwide!

Sweetapolita sprinkles

Chef’s Select: Chef’s Select sprinkles can be found on Amazon and say “Gluten Free Certified” on the front of the packaging.

I contacted the parent company, Gel Spice Co, to inquire which third-party certifying agency certified the product as gluten free. I will report back once they respond, but the label looks fishy to me since the company isn’t displaying a certified gluten-free logo from a reputable certifying agency like the GFCO, NSF, or Beyond Celiac.

Chef's Select sprinkles with fish certified gluten free label

Store [Generic] Brands of Sprinkles

Walmart’s Great Value: Great Value is Walmart’s private label, and Great Values makes a variety of sprinkles. I bought the sprinkle mix, and there are no disclosures or may contain statements on the packaging.

Online, however, the sprinkle mix bears a disclaimer that says, “May contain traces of wheat,” which is likely due to the potential for cross-contamination during the manufacturing process.

I independently tested the sprinkles for hidden gluten with my Nima Sensor. Nima did not find any gluten in the specific Great Value Sprinkle Mix I purchased. Read labels carefully before buying this brand.

Great Value walmart sprinkles with smiley face nima sensor

Kroger: Kroger says on its website that its brand of sprinkles is “free from wheat and its derivatives.” However, its Simple Truth brand does not appear to contain any gluten ingredients but is not labeled gluten free.

Target: Target’s Favorite Day and Wondershop sprinkles bear a warning on the label that says “may contain wheat.”

Whole Foods 365: Whole Foods 365 brand of sprinkles has no “may contain” warning labels or disclosures on its sprinkles, but it does not appear to contain any gluten.

Are Sprinkles Celiac Safe?

As you can see, few brands of sprinkles are labeled gluten free, and none are certified gluten free by a reputable gluten-free certifying agency. Personally, I feel comfortable using Betty Crocker and Wilton sprinkles, and I hope this article helps you feel better about it too.

I will update this article as I learn about new brands and should any of these sprinkle brands become certified gluten free. Fingers crossed!

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Hi, I'm Jenny Levine Finke and am passionate about the gluten-free lifestyle. I'm a certified integrative nutrition coach and self-taught expert on [most] gluten-free things. I have celiac disease and know the struggles you're going through first-hand. This is why I've dedicated this blog to serving the celiac and gluten sensitive communities with important information, product and restaurant reviews, and simple recipes I hope you'll love. Read More…

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