Food Safety Substance
CaramelE150A
Caramel (E150A) is a food additive with PUBLISHED in the EU, GRAS in the US, and data from 8 regulatory sources.
CAS 8028-89-5
E150A
Indexable evidence set
FDA
GRAS
ADI / TDI
EFSA ADI = 100 mg/kg bw/day
Codex
60 row(s)
SOURCE
D1 identity resolution
e number aliases | Food Additives | dsstox identifiers | 8 matched regulatory source group(s)
Substance Identity
Resolved identifiers used to render this food-safety record.
Substance name
Caramel
CAS
8028-89-5
E-number
E150A
DTXSID
DTXSID2044264
Evidence tier
Indexable evidence set (14)
SOURCE
EU Commission
FDA | Health Canada | Codex Alimentarius
Multi-Jurisdiction Comparison
Side-by-side status rows for the same resolved substance across public food regulators.
| Jurisdiction | Authority | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | EU Commission | PUBLISHED | EU additive listing; Annex II entry |
| Canada | Health Canada | Listed | Food Colours |
| Codex | Codex Alimentarius | Listed | Colour |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Food Additives | EU Food Additives Database
EU Food Additive Status
EU Commission food-additive listing rows from eu_food_additives.
| Jurisdiction | E-number | Status | Type | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | E150A | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Plain caramel | The term caramel relates to products of a more or less intense brown colour which are intended for colouring. It does not correspond to the sugary aromatic product obtained from... |
| European Union | E150A | PUBLISHED | group | Caramels | - |
| European Union | E150B | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Caustic sulphite caramel | - |
| European Union | E150C | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Ammonia caramel | - |
| European Union | E150D | PUBLISHED | substanceFAD | Sulphite ammonia caramel | - |
| European Union | E150A | PUBLISHED | group | Plain caramel, Caustic sulphite caramel and Sulphite ammonia caramel | - |
SOURCE
EU Commission
EU Annex II Authorised | EU Food Additives Database
EU Annex II Authorised Uses
Authorised additive rows and use conditions from EU Annex II tables.
| Jurisdiction | E-number | Name | INS | Policy item | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | E150A | Plain caramel | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3002 | The term caramel relates to products of a more or less intense brown colour which are intended for colouring. It does not correspond to the sugary aromatic product obtained from... |
| European Union | - | Caramels | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3003 | - |
| European Union | - | Plain caramel, Caustic sulphite caramel and Sulphite ammonia caramel | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3363 | - |
| European Union | E150B | Caustic sulphite caramel | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3004 | - |
| European Union | E150C | Ammonia caramel | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3005 | - |
| European Union | E150D | Sulphite ammonia caramel | - | POL-FAD-IMPORT-3006 | - |
Conditions and restrictions
| Jurisdiction | Food category | Restriction | Comment | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | 4.2.4.1 fruit and vegetable preparations excluding compote | quantum satis | Only seaweed based fish roe analogues | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 14.2.5 Mead | quantum satis | miód pitny jakościowy can only contain E 150a made from honey’ | EU Annex II Union List |
| European Union | 4.2.4.1 fruit and vegetable preparations excluding compote | quantum satis | Only seaweed based fish roe analogues | EU Food Additives Database |
| European Union | 14.2.5 Mead | quantum satis | miód pitny jakościowy can only contain E 150a made from honey’ | EU Food Additives Database |
SOURCE
Codex Alimentarius
Codex GSFA
Codex GSFA Status
Codex Alimentarius GSFA permissions and maximum-use rows.
| Jurisdiction | INS / E-number | Function | Food category | Max level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 04.2.2.7 Fermented vegetable (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera) and seaweed products, excluding fermented soybean products of food categories 06.8.6, 06.8.7, 12.9.1, 12.9.2.1 and 12.9.2.3 | GMP | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Gari (CXS 151-1985).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Gochujang (CXS 294-2009).; Excluding products conforming... |
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 06.4.2 Dried pastas and noodles and like products | GMP | Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with colour function in this food category while others limit these additives to certain products. |
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 08.1.1 Fresh meat, poultry, and game, whole pieces or cuts | GMP | For use in decoration, stamping, marking or branding the product only. |
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 08.1.2 Fresh meat, poultry, and game, comminuted | GMP | For use only in breakfast sausages, merguez type products, salsicha fresca, butifarra fresca, longaniza fresca and chorizo fresco and mici. |
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 09.2.2 Frozen battered fish, fish fillets, and fish products, including mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms | GMP | For use in breading or batter coatings only. |
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 14.1.5 Coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, herbal infusions, and other hot cereal and grain beverages, excluding cocoa | GMP | For use in ready-to-drink products and pre-mixes for ready-to-drink products only.; For use in flavoured products only. |
| Codex | 150a | Colour | 14.2.3.3 Fortified grape wine, grape liquor wine, and sweet grape wine | GMP | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.1.4 Flavoured fluid milk drinks | 2,000 mg/kg | Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243- 2003) at 150 mg/kg.; Excluding chocolate milk. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.6.1 Unripened cheese | 15,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cottage Cheese (CXS 273-1968).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Mozzarella (CODEX STAN 262-2006).; For use in... |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.6.2.2 Rind of ripened cheese | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.6.2.3 Cheese powder (for reconstitution; e.g. for cheese sauces) | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.6.4.2 Flavoured processed cheese, including containing fruit, vegetables, meat, etc. | 50,000 mg/kg | On the ready-to-eat basis. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.6.5 Cheese analogues | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 01.7 Dairy-based desserts (e.g. pudding, fruit or flavoured yoghurt) | 2,000 mg/kg | Except for use in products conforming to the Standard for Fermented Milks (CXS 243- 2003) at 150 mg/kg.; Except for use in ice cream products with light brown colour at 3600 mg/kg. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 02.2.2 Fat spreads, dairy fat spreads and blended spreads | 500 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Dairy Fat Spreads (CXS 253-2006). |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 02.3 Fat emulsions mainly of type oil-in-water, including mixed and/or flavoured products based on fat emulsions | 20,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 02.4 Fat-based desserts excluding dairy-based dessert products of food category 01.7 | 20,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 03.0 Edible ices, including sherbet and sorbet | 8,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.11 Fruit fillings for pastries | 7,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.3 Fruit in vinegar, oil, or brine | 7,500 mg/kg | For use with red fruits only. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.4 Canned or bottled (pasteurized) fruit | 7,500 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Certain Canned Fruits (CODEX STAN 319-2015) except for use in special holiday packs for canned pears conforming to the standard.;... |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.5 Jams, jellies, marmelades | 1,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.6 Fruit-based spreads (e.g. chutney) excluding products of food category 04.1.2.5 | 500 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Mango Chutney (CODEX STAN 160-1987). |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.7 Candied fruit | 7,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.8 Fruit preparations, including pulp, purees, fruit toppings and coconut milk | 7,500 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Date Paste (CODEX STAN 314R-2013).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Aqueous Coconut Products (CODEX STAN... |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.1.2.9 Fruit-based desserts, including fruit-flavoured water-based desserts | 7,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 04.2.2.3 Vegetables (including mushrooms and fungi, roots and tubers, pulses and legumes, and aloe vera), and seaweeds in vinegar, oil, brine, or soybean sauce | 500 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Table Olives (CODEX STAN 66-1981).; Excluding products conforming to the General Standard for Edible Fungi and Fungus Products... |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 05.1.3 Cocoa-based spreads, including fillings | 50,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Cocoa Butter (CODEX STAN 86-1981). |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 05.1.4 Cocoa and chocolate products | 50,000 mg/kg | For use in surface decoration only. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 05.1.5 Imitation chocolate, chocolate substitute products | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 05.2 Confectionery including hard and soft candy, nougats, etc. other than food categories 05.1, 05.3 and 05.4 | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 05.3 Chewing gum | 20,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 05.4 Decorations (e.g. for fine bakery wares), toppings (non-fruit) and sweet sauces | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 06.3 Breakfast cereals, including rolled oats | 2,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 06.4.3 Pre-cooked pastas and noodles and like products | 50,000 mg/kg | For use in instant noodles conforming to the Standard for Instant Noodles (CODEX STAN 249-2006) only. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 06.5 Cereal and starch based desserts (e.g. rice pudding, tapioca pudding) | 1,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 06.6 Batters (e.g. for breading or batters for fish or poultry) | 2,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.1.1 Yeast-leavened breads and specialty breads | 15,000 mg/kg | For use in pumpernickel bread at 15,000 mg/kg and for use in malt bread at 3,000 mg/kg only.; Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with sweetener and colour functions in... |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.1.2 Soda breads | 15,000 mg/kg | Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with sweetener and colour functions in this food category while others limit this food category to products without these additives. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.2 Crackers, excluding sweet crackers | 15,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.3 Other ordinary bakery products (e.g. bagels, pita, English muffins) | 15,000 mg/kg | Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with sweetener and colour functions in this food category while others limit this food category to products without these additives. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.4 Bread-type products, including bread stuffing and bread crumbs | 15,000 mg/kg | Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with sweetener and colour functions in this food category while others limit this food category to products without these additives. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.5 Steamed breads and buns | 15,000 mg/kg | Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with sweetener and colour functions in this food category while others limit this food category to products without these additives.;... |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.1.6 Mixes for bread and ordinary bakery wares | 15,000 mg/kg | Some Codex Members allow the use of additives with sweetener and colour functions in this food category while others limit this food category to products without these additives. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 07.2 Fine bakery wares (sweet, salty, savoury) and mixes | 3,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 08.1.2 Fresh meat, poultry, and game, comminuted | 2,000 mg/kg | For use only in breakfast sausages, merguez type products, salsicha fresca, butifarra fresca, longaniza fresca and chorizo fresco and mici. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 08.3 Processed comminuted meat, poultry, and game products | 2,000 mg/kg | For use in products containing vegetable protein only.; For use in sausages, patties, terrines and in products containing vegetable protein only. |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 12.2.2 Seasonings and condiments | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 12.3 Vinegars | 5,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 12.4 Mustards | 300 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 12.5 Soups and broths | 25,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 12.6 Sauces and like products | 6,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Fish Sauce (CODEX STAN 302-2011).; Excluding products conforming to the Standard for Chilli Sauce (CXS 306-2011). |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 12.7 Salads (e.g. macaroni salad, potato salad) and sandwich spreads excluding cocoa- and nut-based spreads of food categories 04.2.2.5 and 05.1.3 | 200 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 13.3 Dietetic foods intended for special medical purposes (excluding products of food category 13.1) | 4,000 mg/kg | Excluding products conforming to the Guidelines for Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (CXG 95-2022). |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 13.4 Dietetic formulae for slimming purposes and weight reduction | 5,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 13.5 Dietetic foods (e.g. supplementary foods for dietary use) excluding products of food categories 13.1 - 13.4 and 13.6 | 20,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 13.6 Food supplements | 7,500 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 14.2.1 Beer and malt beverages | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 14.2.2 Cider and perry | 1,000 mg/kg | - |
| Codex | 150b | Colour | 14.2.3.3 Fortified grape wine, grape liquor wine, and sweet grape wine | 50,000 mg/kg | - |
SOURCE
Health Canada
Health Canada Status
Health Canada food-additive permissions by functional class and food scope.
| Jurisdiction | Class | Permitted foods | Maximum level | List |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Food Colours | (a) Apple and (naming the fruit or fruits) jam; Bread; Brown bread; Butter; Cider vinegar; Concentrated (naming the fruit) juice, except frozen concentrated orange juice; Fig marmalade with pectin; Fish roe (caviar);... | (a) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (b) Beer; Brandy; Canadian Brandy; Canadian Whisky; Cider; Dried fruit Brandy; Fruit Brandy; Fruit wine; Liqueur; Malt Vinegar; Rum; Rye Whisky; Scotch Whisky; Sherry; Wine; Whisky | (b) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (c) Blend of prepared fish and prepared meat as set out in paragraph 18.1.3(g) of Volume 18 of the Food Compositional Standards Document | (c) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (d) Cheddar cheese containing one or more flavouring preparations in accordance with subparagraph 7.4.3(c)(ii) of Volume 7 of the Food Compositional Standards Document | (d) Good Manufacturing Practice in the flavouring preparation. The amount of caramel not to exceed 50 ppm in the finished cheddar cheese. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (e) Cream cheese spread with (naming the added ingredients) | (e) 1.5% | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (e.1) (Naming the flavour) essence; (Naming the flavour) extract; (Naming the flavour) flavour | (e.1) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (f) Sausage casings | (f) 15%. The amount not to exceed 0.15% in the sausage prepared with the casing. | List of Permitted Food Colours |
| Canada | Food Colours | (g) Unstandardized foods, except those unstandardized foods set out in paragraph (f) of this item | (g) Good Manufacturing Practice | List of Permitted Food Colours |
SOURCE
JECFA
JECFA ADI
JECFA ADI Values
JECFA ADI records and evaluation years.
| Jurisdiction | Chemical name | JECFA no. | CAS | ADI | ADI upper | Function | Evaluation year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JECFA | PLAIN CARAMEL | - | - | no_data | - | - | 1985 |
| JECFA | CARAMEL COLOUR, Class I | - | 8028-89-5 | NOT SPECIFIED | - | COLOUR | 1985 |
| JECFA | CARAMEL COLOUR, Class II | - | 8028-89-5 | 0-160 mg/kg bw | 160 | COLOUR | 2000 |
| JECFA | AMMONIA CARAMEL | - | - | no_data | - | - | 1985 |
| JECFA | CARAMEL COLOUR, Class III | - | 8028-89-5 | 0-200 mg/kg bw | 200 | COLOUR | 1985 |
| JECFA | CAUSTIC CARAMEL | - | - | no_data | - | - | 1985 |
| JECFA | CAUSTIC SULFITE CARAMEL | - | - | no_data | - | - | 2000 |
| JECFA | CARAMEL COLOUR, Class IV | - | 8028-89-5 | 0-200 mg/kg bw | 200 | COLOUR | 1985 |
| JECFA | SULFITE AMMONIA CARAMEL | - | - | no_data | - | - | 1985 |
SOURCE
ingredients
ghs classifications
Cross-Reference to Cosmetics / Chemicals / Pharma
Same-CAS public rows from adjacent Roots verticals where available.
SOURCE
Cross-vertical comparison
ingredients | ghs classifications
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
This substance has different regulatory treatment across food, cosmetics, and industrial use.
SOURCE
FAQPage JSON-LD
public food renderer rows
Frequently Asked Questions
Food-use, safety, ADI, and cross-vertical answers mirrored into FAQPage JSON-LD.
What is Caramel used for in food?
Caramel appears in food-use rows as: Antioxidant/Color; Colour; Food Colours.
Is Caramel / E150A safe?
This page does not assign a standalone safety verdict; it renders public regulatory evidence. ADI/reference value: EFSA ADI = 100 mg/kg bw/day. EU status evidence: PUBLISHED. US/FDA evidence: GRAS.
What is the ADI for Caramel?
Caramel has this ADI/reference value in the food-safety tables: EFSA ADI = 100 mg/kg bw/day. Source: EFSA ANS 2011.
Is Caramel also used in cosmetics?
Caramel has a same-CAS cosmetics cross-reference: Caramel, EU status permitted.