About
What it is and where it shows up.
Caustic Sulphite Caramel (E150b) is a dark brown food colouring produced by the controlled heat treatment of carbohydrates in the presence of sulphite compounds. It is widely used to impart a brown colour to foods and beverages such as soft drinks, beer, seasonings, soups, and confectionery.
Safety summary
The regulatory and scientific consensus.
EFSA's 2011 re-evaluation concluded that caramel colours including E150b are neither genotoxic nor carcinogenic, and show no evidence of adverse effects on human reproduction. JECFA established an ADI of 0–160 mg/kg body weight/day for E150b; EFSA later set a broader group ADI of 300 mg/kg bw/day for all four caramel colours combined. Dietary exposure estimates for E150b specifically have been assessed to fall below the ADI for both children and adults.
Regulatory landscape
What food-safety regulators have decided.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | E150b is also authorised as a feed additive under Regulation (EU) 231/2012, alongside E150c and E150d. Identity and characterisation methods follow FAO JECFA monograph specifications.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Caramel is listed as GRAS under 21 CFR 182.1235. FDA does not distinguish between the four caramel colour classes for GRAS purposes; all are treated as exempt from batch certification as colour additives.source |
Who should approach with care
Whose guidance would steer them away.
Sulfite Sensitivity — E150b is produced using sulphite compounds and may contain residual SO2; sulphite-sensitive individuals, particularly those with asthma or salicylate hypersensitivity, may experience reactions ranging from breathing difficulties to severe bronchospasm.
Other — Individuals with known asthma should exercise caution, as sulphites present in E150b can trigger airway hypersensitivity reactions including pharyngeal oedema, urticaria, and potentially fatal bronchospasm in susceptible patients.
Research citations
The sources behind this verdict.
- 1WHO. JECFA Food Additives Database: Caustic Sulfite Caramel (Caramel Colour II). apps.who.int
- 2other. GSFA Online Food Additive Details: Caramel II – Sulfite Caramel (150b). fao.org
- 3PubMed. Hypersensitivity Reactions to Food Additives—Preservatives, Antioxidants, Flavor Enhancers, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4EFSA. Refined exposure assessment for caramel colours (E 150a, c, d), 2012. efsa.europa.eu
- 5EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of caramel colours (E 150 a,b,c,d) as food additives, 2011. efsa.europa.eu
Independently researched5 citations