Is Caramel safe in cosmetics?
Caramel has a safety rating of "MODERATE" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 3 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Caramel
Also known as: (Caramel) (AP 680) (BC 420 (Color)) (Burnt sugar) (Burnt sugar coloring), BC 420, Burnt sugar, Burnt sugar coloring, Caramel flavor (+6 more)
INCI: CARAMEL
Caramel (CAS 8028-89-5) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Colorant (brownish-orange to dark brown), burnt sugar coloring. Reported NOAEL =10 mg/kg bw/day in Rat (ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 8028-89-5 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Colorant (brownish-orange to dark brown), burnt sugar coloring
Safety Rating
MODERATE
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permanently listed, exempt from certification - Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics generally, including eye area use
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Caramel.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
3 study endpoints found for Caramel. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =10 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =15 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =20 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | subchronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
2 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
colorant_formulator
{"ci_number": "75130", "ci_name": "Natural Brown 10", "color_category": "brown", "color_hex_code": "#964B00", "natural_or_synthetic": "natural", "organic_or_inorganic": "organic", "lake_or_dye": "dye", "fda_approved_use": "general", "eu_approved_cosmetic": "yes", "japan_approved": "yes", "china_approved": "yes", "coverage_opacity": "transparent", "tinting_strength": "low", "lightfastness_rating": …
self_tanning
{"cas_number": "8028-89-5", "ingredient_class": "instant_bronzer", "tanning_mechanism": "cosmetic_colorant", "color_development_onset_hours": "0.0", "full_color_development_hours": "0", "color_duration_days": "0", "color_depth": "medium", "undertone": "warm_golden", "color_uniformity": "excellent", "DHA_concentration_if_applicable_pct": "0", "erythrulose_concentration_pct": "0", "pH_dependent_colo…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Dye
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Pigment
Solvent
Tracer
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Caramel.
Regulatory Flags
colorant
natural-origin
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
eu_cosing_listed
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Caramel by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
3
Lowest NOAEL
10 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
20 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
(Caramel) (AP 680) (BC 420 (Color)) (Burnt sugar) (Burnt sugar coloring)
BC 420
Burnt sugar
Burnt sugar coloring
Caramel flavor
Caramel liquid
EINECS 232-435-9
FEMA No. 2235
Natural brown 10
UNII-T9D99G2B1R
Caramel (color)
Chemical Function
Dye
Deodorizer
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
SCIL (9/2019)
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
general_foods
pharmaceutical
Personal care
Europe; Personal care
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
IFRA Transparency
SCIL (9/2019)
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caramel allowed in the EU?
Caramel EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Caramel do in cosmetics?
Caramel functions as: Colorant (brownish-orange to dark brown), burnt sugar coloring. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 8028-89-5.
What is the NOAEL for Caramel?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Caramel is =10 mg/kg bw/day based on a subchronic study via oral route in Rat. A total of 3 study endpoints are available. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Caramel used outside cosmetics?
Caramel also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Caramel compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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