Sprinkles

Sprinkles is a specialized micronutrient powder (MNP) formulation designed for the home fortification of complementary foods to address micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Developed by Dr. Stanley Zlotkin at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Micronutrient Initiative (now Nutrition International), the product addresses the limitations of traditional iron supplements like drops or syrups. The key innovation is the encapsulation of iron (typically as ferrous fumarate) in a thin lipid layer, which prevents the iron from interacting with food, thereby avoiding changes in taste, color, or texture that often lead to poor compliance. Each single-serve sachet typically contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, folic acid, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C. Sprinkles are primarily intended for infants, young children, and pregnant women in resource-limited settings to improve hematological and nutritional status.

Brand names

SprinklesSuppleFem Sprinkles

Other names

Micronutrient PowdersMNPHome-based micronutrient fortificationMultiple micronutrient powder