Safe

E150a — Plain caramel

Color

E150a (Plain caramel), a color, is rated "safe": no significant concern. Traditional caramel color made by heating sugar with no ammonia or sulphite. The safest of the four caramel-color types because it contains no 4-MEI.

What is Plain caramel?

Caramel color made the traditional way: just heating sugar until it browns. Used in soy sauce, vinegar, baked goods, and beer.

What does it do to the body?

Essentially burnt sugar. None of the 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI, a byproduct flagged as a possible carcinogen) that forms with the ammonia-processed caramel types. Safe at food levels.

What regulators say

EFSA kept the group acceptable daily intake at 300 mg per kg of body weight per day in 2011. FDA-approved without restriction.

Risk rating: Safe

Cleared by EFSA with no significant concern at typical dietary exposure. Common, well-studied, and not a reason to put a product back on the shelf.

Source: EFSA — re-evaluation of caramel colours (2011) ↗
E-number: E150aCategory: ColorAlso known as: plain caramel

Frequently asked questions

Is E150a (Plain caramel) safe?
EFSA kept the group acceptable daily intake at 300 mg per kg of body weight per day in 2011. FDA-approved without restriction.
What is E150a (Plain caramel)?
Caramel color made the traditional way: just heating sugar until it browns. Used in soy sauce, vinegar, baked goods, and beer.
What does Plain caramel do to the body?
Essentially burnt sugar. None of the 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI, a byproduct flagged as a possible carcinogen) that forms with the ammonia-processed caramel types. Safe at food levels.
What are other names for E150a?
E150a is also known as plain caramel.

Related color

E100 CurcuminSafeE101 RiboflavinSafeE102 TartrazineAvoidE104 Quinoline yellowAvoidE110 Sunset yellow FCFAvoidE120 CochinealSafe

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