What it is
E150 covers four sub-classes of caramel colour, all produced by the controlled heating of carbohydrates (sugars, glucose syrup, etc.) with various process aids:
- E150a — plain caramel
- E150b — caustic sulphite caramel
- E150c — ammonia caramel
- E150d — sulphite ammonia caramel (the one in Coca-Cola)
Why it matters
The most widely-used food colouring in the world. Appears in cola drinks, sauces, gravies, soy sauce, beer, whisky, vinegar, and many baked goods.
What to do
All four sub-classes are vegan — the carbohydrate source and process aids are plant or mineral-based. Health concerns around E150c and E150d (residual 4-methylimidazole) are separate from vegan status.