Frequently Asked Questions

Browse the most commonly asked questions below. If your question is unanswered use the form below to ask one of our qualified nutritionists.

1. Why do Bickies contain butter rather than margarine?
   Margarine generally contains artificial colours and flavours and preservatives such as 202. As some children are sensitive to these ingredients we chose to avoid these in our Bickies. The levels of total fat, saturated fat and trans fat using butter meet the strict nutrient criteria developed for this range of products.
2. Do Ricey Bites contain palm oil?
   No, Ricey Bites do not contain any palm oil.
3. Are the colours and flavours in The Wiggles products natural?
   All of the colours and flavours in Fruit Fills, Bickies and Ricey Bites are 100% natural.
4. Why are The Wiggles doing this?
   As early childhood educators and entertainers, The Wiggles understand their young audience. Combine this with their commitment to providing suitable messages about nutrition and exercise means that they can contribute to the well being of our children - now and future generations.
   
   “It’s something we have been doing for almost 20 years, like our songs ‘Fruit Salad’ and ‘Vegetable Soup’”, says Blue Wiggle Anthony Field.
   
   The Wiggles ongoing support for children’s health and well being is also demonstrated through their partnership with Medibank Private, in the ‘Wiggle into Health’ website.
   
   The Wiggles have also supported research investigating suitable nutrition labelling and instilling better food choices in young children and their parents.
   
   The new product range is a natural extension of The Wiggles wellbeing philosophy – providing fun, tasty and healthier options that parents can choose as part of their child’s healthy balanced eating. The nutrition philosophy of The Wiggles is to promote healthy eating behaviours in young children, while recognising that food can be tasty and fun. Young children have unique nutritional needs that must meet the demands of growth and development as well as daily activity. Learning to eat a variety of foods is an important part of discovering the world around them.
5. In your labelling system, what does sometimes and often mean?
   ‘EVERYDAY’ FOODS
   Foods that are nutrient dense and can be eaten every day
   
   

   • Whole foods e.g. fruit and vegetables, breads, cereals, reduced fat milk, cheese, yoghurt, eggs, legumes, lean meats and fish
   • Excellent source of nutrients
   • Low in saturated fat and/or sugar and/or sodium (salt)
   • Do not contribute excess kilojoules

     EAT EVERYDAY, EAT A VARIETY, MAKES UP THE BULK OF EVERY MEAL
   
   ‘SOMETIMES’ FOODS
   Foods that can be eaten in the context of a healthy balanced diet
   
   

   • Processed foods with some nutritional value (e.g. sweet or savoury biscuits, snack food bars, savoury snack foods, ice cream, fruit juice, processed breakfast cereals)
   • May contain moderate amounts of added fat, sugar and/ or sodium.
   • May contain food additives
   • Can contribute excess kilojoules if consumed in large quantities
   • Convenient (they are often snack foods)

     EAT SOMETIMES: NOT TO BE EATEN AT EVERY MEAL OR SNACK, AVOID LARGE SERVES, READ THE NUTRITION LABELLING CAREFULLY – CHECK FOR SMALL BUT REALISTIC, SERVES, LESS INGREDIENTS AND MINIMAL SATURATED FAT, SUGAR AND SODIUM PER SERVE.
   
   ‘OCCASIONAL’ FOODS
   Foods that are only eaten occasionally as treat items as they contribute little nutritional value beyond providing kilojoules.
   
   

   • Processed foods which lack nutritional value (e.g. soft drinks, confectionary, deep fried food, some savoury snacks and meals, some cakes, pastries and biscuits)
   • High in saturated fat, sugar and/ or salt
   • Often contain food additives
   • Contribute excess kilojoules
   • May contribute to tooth decay

   TREAT FOODS : EAT OCCASIONALLY, NOT EVERY DAY, AVOID LARGE SERVES AVOID REWARDING WITH THESE FOODS  
6. Do Wiggles foods contain saturated and trans fats?
   We understand saturated fat and trans fat are public health issues and we have worked to keep all trans and saturated fats to an absolute minimum. Where possible we have chosen to use mono or polyunsaturated fat. In some circumstances butter has been used to ensure the integrity of the product, however the amount of total fat has been kept to a minimum.  
7. Are Bickies and Fruit Fills nut free or just free of nuts?
   Bickies and Fruit Fills are 100% nut free. They are manufactured in a dedicated nut free Australian facility. Each batch is tested for the presence of nuts.  
8. Which nutritionists have been consulted in developing the nutrient guidelines for your labelling?
   The nutrient guidelines and labelling have been developed based on current scientific evidence and consumer preferences. These have been developed by Dr Fiona Pelly ( Accredited Practising Dietitian and Wiggles nutritionist) in consultation with a panel of Australian nutrition experts.
   
   Dr Pelly is a senior lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at the Univeristy of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She has had over 20 years experience as a dietitian and has helped to provide healthy food at the Olympic and Commonwealth games and for the Wiggles.
9. Are there any preservatives in Ricey Bites?
   There are no added preservatives in Ricey Bites, however oils such as sunflower oil contain a small amount of preservative 307 to prevent the oil from spoiling.
10. What are your nutritional guidelines?
    The nutritional guidelines are based on three factors that are integral to healthy eating: 1. the healthiness of the food, 2. the frequency of intake and 3. the serve size or quantity consumed.  The nutrient criteria varies from category to category and is subject to approval based on criteria developed by experts.  
11. Why are many of the products portion contolled?
    The emphasis on portion control is because younger children have specific nutrition needs and the serving sizes have been created with children (1 - 5 year olds) in mind. The smaller serving sizes are ideal for little tummies and will help parents manage their child’s intake of ‘sometimes’, or snack foods. It’s also a simple and economical way to keep the products fresh and minimise waste.
12. You say no preservatives and additives but what about all the numbers?
    Our products contain only 100% natural colours and flavours and minimal preservatives. In some cases numbers have been used in the ingredients list as an abbreviation of the scientific name for a natural flavour or additive.  
13. Why are most of your products “sometimes foods”?
    We understand at times convenience is key and this food range provides parents with a healthier option to choose as part of their child’s healthy balanced eating.  
14. How can these products meet the nutritional needs of 1-5 year olds when their needs are so different?
    We targeted the nutritional needs of 2-3 year olds, The Wiggle’s main audience, but factored in both ends of the age spectrum.  
15. Do the Healtheries The Wiggles products meet the NSW School Canteen Guidelines?
    Bickies and Fruit Fills meet the NSW Canteen guidelines for “Amber”.  
16. Do the products meets FSANZ standards?
    Yes, all of our products are strictly developed and manufactured following appropriate Australian and new Zealand Standards and meet the FSANZ food standards code.  
17. What is your policy on supporting Australia, using Australian products?
    Our policy is to support Australian made and local ingredients wherever possible and as a first preference.  
18. Have you considered the environment when sourcing your packaging?
    The products have been packaged in line with sensible portion control for children (1-5 year olds) in mind. 
    
    

    • The smaller serving sizes are ideal for little tummies and will help Parents manage their child’s intake of “sometimes”, or snack foods.
    • It’s also a simple and smart way to keep the products fresh and minimise waste.

    
    All retail boxes are made from 95% recycled material and are recyclable.