FDA Status
Approved
Color Additive · CAS 8028-89-5 · EU E150a-d
Caramel Color
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
3.0 / 5
Composite safety Mixed Evidence
Score 3 of 5
Caramel Color: 3/5 (Mixed Evidence)
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Caramel Color is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. It is one of the most widely-used food additives tracked.
- 99th percentile by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Caramel Color is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. It is one of the most widely-used food additives tracked (99th percentile by tracked product count).
- 3/5
- Mixed Evidence
- Approved
- FDA status
- 99th pctile
- by product prevalence
- 0
- state regulations
Caramel Color (E150a-d), CAS 8028-89-5, is a color additive additive holding a composite safety score of 3 out of 5 (Mixed Evidence). According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Substances Added to Food inventory, it is currently classified as Approved, while the European Union lists it as Approved. This ingredient appears in approximately 5,217 tracked food products across our database. It is most commonly used as Cola, soy sauce, beer, bread, pet food.
No U.S. state has enacted specific legislation targeting Caramel Color to date, keeping federal FDA classification as the operative standard. State-level food safety legislation remains active nationally, and that picture may shift as new bills advance.
Peer-reviewed research has flagged 1 distinct area of health concern for Caramel Color, which factors directly into the assigned safety score. All figures above draw on FDA SAFFA inventory records, EU food additive regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, EFSA scientific opinions where published, and legislative records from individual U.S. states.
Regulatory Snapshot
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | E150a-d | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | 8028-89-5 | CAS Registry |
| Category | Color Additive | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 3 / 5 (Mixed Evidence) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | Not established | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
| Tracked Products | 5,217 | Open Food Facts (US) |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
EU Status
Approved
E150a-d
U.S. State Regulations
0 states
None enacted
Safety Assessment
Caramel Color's 3/5 (Mixed Evidence) score reflects where this specific ingredient lands on that scale. The FDA has approved Caramel Color for use in food products under specified conditions.
Research has identified 1 area of health concern associated with Caramel Color. Consumers with specific health conditions should consult a healthcare provider before consuming products containing this ingredient.
How Caramel Color compares
Where a safety score of 3/5 falls among all 4,509 scored ingredients tracked on PlainIngredients.
Ingredients by safety score (Caramel Color highlighted)
25 of 4,509 scored ingredients (0.6%) share a safety score of 3/5.
What is Caramel Color?
Made by heating sugars. Four classes (I-IV). Class IV (ammonia caramel) is most controversial.
Health Concerns
- Class IV contains 4-MEI, a possible carcinogen. California requires Prop 65 warning.
Common Uses
Cola, soy sauce, beer, bread, pet food
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caramel Color safe to consume?
Caramel Color has a safety score of 3/5 (Mixed Evidence). It is approved by the FDA for use in food. As with all food additives, moderation is advisable.
What is Caramel Color used for in food?
Caramel Color is commonly used as: Cola, soy sauce, beer, bread, pet food. It belongs to the Color Additive category of food additives.
Is Caramel Color banned in any US states?
Currently, no US states have enacted specific bans or regulations targeting Caramel Color. However, state food safety legislation is evolving rapidly.
What is the difference between FDA and EU regulation of Caramel Color?
The FDA classifies Caramel Color as "Approved", while the EU status is "Approved" (E150a-d). The FDA and EU use separate evaluation frameworks, the EU often applies the precautionary principle, sometimes banning additives that remain approved in the US. Always check both jurisdictions when evaluating food additive safety.
What health concerns are associated with Caramel Color?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Caramel Color: Class IV contains 4-MEI, a possible carcinogen. California requires Prop 65 warning.. These findings inform its safety score of 3/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.
How is the safety score for Caramel Color calculated?
The safety score of 3/5 for Caramel Color is a composite assessment based on FDA regulatory status, EU approval status, published scientific research on health effects, and state-level legislative actions. A score of 1 means "Banned / Avoid" and 5 means "Generally Safe." The score is updated as new regulatory actions or scientific evidence emerge.
Data Sources
- FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) Inventory
- EU Food Additive Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008
- State food safety legislation and bill records
Related Color Additive Ingredients
What to do about Caramel Color
Use the regulatory picture, not a single score, to decide.
- Check the FDA status (Approved) and EU status (Approved) before assuming it is risk-free. How we score
- Compare it against the most-restricted additives in the U.S. supply. View rankings
- Scan a whole ingredient label at once to flag the concerning entries. Label checker
Safety scores summarise regulatory status and published concerns; they are not medical or dietary advice.
Every figure on PlainIngredients is rendered directly from FDA, EU, EFSA and U.S. state regulatory records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.