E150d Caramel Color (Sulfite Ammonia Caramel)

E150dColorsOrigin: Plant

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Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganYes

Made from sugars, with no animal ingredients.

Gluten-freeDepends

Usually made from corn in the US. Outside North America it can come from wheat or barley, though the heavy processing removes almost all gluten. Check the label if you are celiac.

Full answer ›

HalalYes

KosherYes

Corn-based versions are not kosher for Passover for those who avoid kitniyot.

KetoYes

Used in tiny amounts, so it adds no meaningful carbs.

Low-FODMAPYes

The short answer

Caramel color (E150d) is the most common food coloring in the world and is considered safe at normal intakes. Its one real question mark is 4-MEI, a byproduct California lists as a carcinogen, which is why colas cut their levels.

60/100

Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberE150d

Comes fromPlant

What it doesColors

Glycemic index—

Daily limit300 mg/kg

Also calledCaramel color, Caramel coloring

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDAApproved

🇪🇺 European UnionApproved

🇨🇦 Health CanadaApproved

CaliforniaRestrictedProp 65 lists 4-MEI, a byproduct of this caramel class, as a carcinogen. Products exposing people to more than 29 micrograms a day need a warning, which pushed major colas to lower their 4-MEI levels.

Approved in the US, EU and Canada. There are four classes of caramel color: plain (I, E150a), caustic sulfite (II, E150b), ammonia (III, E150c) and sulfite ammonia (IV, E150d). EFSA's 2011 review set a shared daily limit for classes I, III and IV and capped 4-MEI in the product. The FDA has said it sees no immediate danger from 4-MEI at the levels found in food.

How much is too much? (Acceptable Daily Intake)

Body weight: 70 kg

21 gper day is the safe upper limit

Based on 300 mg per kg of body weight (EFSA / JECFA). A 20 kg (44 lb) child: 6.0 g a day.

What is it?

Sulfite ammonia caramel, or Class IV caramel, is a dark brown liquid made by cooking sugar with ammonia and sulfite compounds. It's the version used in colas because it holds up in acidic drinks. Despite the name, it tastes nothing like caramel candy.

Where it comes from: Made by heating sugars, usually corn syrup in the US, with ammonia and sulfite compounds. Other countries may start from cane sugar, wheat or barley syrups.

Why it’s in food

Gives colas and root beer their dark brown color
Darkens sauces, gravies and baked goods
Keeps color consistent between batches

Often found in

Cola and root beerSoy sauceGravy and sauce mixesDark beerBrown breadBalsamic-style vinegars

Also listed as: Caramel color, Caramel coloring, Class IV caramel, Sulfite ammonia caramel, Caramel IV, E150d, Caramel

Health & gut impact

4-MEI and cancerUnder study

4-MEI forms when caramel is made with ammonia (classes III and IV). Very high doses caused lung tumors in mice, and IARC classed it as possibly carcinogenic. The amounts in a can of cola are far lower.

NTP Technical Report 535 (2007); IARC Monographs Vol. 101 (2012)

Overall safetyConcern

EFSA found no safety concern at normal intakes and set a daily limit of 300 mg per kg of body weight.

EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2011)

What can I use instead?

Plain caramelized sugar

Ratio: A few drops of homemade burnt sugar syrup

Best for: Gravies, sauces and stews

Molasses

Ratio: About 1 tsp per cup of sauce

Best for: Baked goods and barbecue sauce

Cocoa powder

Ratio: To taste

Best for: Dark breads and baked goods

Is it gluten-free?

More colors:

Allura Red AC (Red 40) E129Red 40 (E129) is a petroleum-based dye. It's legal in the US and EU, but European packages must carry a warning about hyperactivity in children, and California is removing it from school food.Best to avoid Beetroot Red (Betanin) E162Beetroot red (E162) is a natural red color made from beets, and it's one of the safest colors you'll find on a label. It's the most common swap for Red 40, though it fades with heat and light.Generally safe Beta-Carotene E160aBeta-carotene (E160a) is the orange pigment in carrots, and it's safe as a food color. Your body turns some of it into vitamin A. High-dose supplements raised lung cancer risk in smokers, but food coloring amounts are far smaller.Generally safe Brilliant Blue FCF (Blue 1) E133Blue 1 (E133) is a synthetic blue dye with a cleaner safety record than most petroleum dyes, and it doesn't need a warning in the EU. It's still being removed from California school food and is part of the FDA's push to phase out synthetic dyes.Best to avoid

Common questions

Is Caramel Color safe?

Use in moderation (60/100). Approved in the US, EU and Canada. There are four classes of caramel color: plain (I, E150a), caustic sulfite (II, E150b), ammonia (III, E150c) and sulfite ammonia (IV, E150d). EFSA's 2011 review set a shared daily limit for classes I, III and IV and capped 4-MEI in the product. The FDA has said it sees no immediate danger from 4-MEI at the levels found in food.

Is Caramel Color vegan?

Yes. Made from sugars, with no animal ingredients.

Is Caramel Color gluten-free?

Depends. Usually made from corn in the US. Outside North America it can come from wheat or barley, though the heavy processing removes almost all gluten. Check the label if you are celiac.

Is caramel color gluten-free?

In the US it's almost always made from corn, so yes. In Europe it may come from wheat, but it's processed so heavily that it's generally considered gluten-free.

Does caramel color contain sugar?

It's made from sugar, but cooking changes it, and so little is used that it adds no meaningful sugar or calories.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations

21 CFR 73.85 (US FDA)
EFSA OpenFoodTox: E150d
NTP Technical Report 535 (2007); IARC Monographs Vol. 101 (2012)
EFSA Panel on Food Additives (2011)

Last checked against FDA, EFSA and Health Canada records: October 31, 2026 · INS 150d · CAS 8028-89-5