E150Caramel colour (class not printed)

What is E150 (caramel colour)?

Caramel colour is a complex mixture made by heating carbohydrates under controlled heat and chemical processing conditions; EFSA divides it into four classes according to the reactants used in manufacture: E150a (class I), E150b (class II), E150c (class III) and E150d (class IV). E150 without a letter is the code used when the label does not print the class, so it is one of these four types.

Is caramel colour harmful?

In 2011 EFSA set a group ADI of 300 mg/kg body weight per day for the caramel colours E150a-d, with 100 mg/kg for class III (E150c) alone. A 2012 follow-up assessment states that combined intake of all four did not exceed the group ADI in any population group, but toddlers and adults could still exceed the 100 mg/kg ADI of E150c.

“However, toddlers and adults have a higher exposure to caramel colour E 150c and could still exceed the ADI of 100 mg/kg bw/day for this caramel colour. The estimated combined exposure to the four caramel colours (E 150a, E 150b, E 150c, E 150d) are considerably lower and the group ADI of 300 mg/kg bw/day is not exceeded for any population group in the current review.”

EFSA Journal (2012). Refined exposure assessment for caramel colours (E 150a, c, d)

Is E150 permitted in Vietnam?

Yes, by type. The four caramel colours E150a, E150b, E150c and E150d (caramel classes I-IV) are all listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, with the function colour. Appendix 1 has no separate row for E150 without a letter.