YenzoWhat is E150a (plain caramel)?
It is plain caramel (class I), a brown colour made by heating carbohydrates without ammonium or sulphite compounds.
E150aPlain caramel (caramel I)
E150a is caramel class I (plain caramel), made by heating sugars without ammonium or sulfite compounds. In food it gives a brown colour.
Did you know? According to EFSA, caramel colours are a complex mixture made by heating carbohydrates under controlled heat and chemical conditions, and are divided into four classes according to the reactants used in manufacture.
- Code
- E150a · INS 150a
- Group
- Colour
In Vietnam✓ PermittedOn the list of permitted additives — Circular 24/2019, Appendix 1
Risk level on the Yenzo Scalevery low?Based on EFSA's scientific assessment, 2012
How much a day stays within the ADI?EFSA 2012 (group ADI, E 150a–d): 300 mg/kg bw/day
about 19.5 g a daythat is 19,500 mg
How E150a appears on labels
IngredientsIllustrative example
Wheat flour, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, colour (150a), dried onion and garlic, pepper, natural colour (160a).
colour (150a)colour 150aE150aINS 150aOn Vietnamese labels: Caramen nhóm I (caramen nguyên chất)
Plain caramel in food
Questions about plain caramel
Is plain caramel harmful?
In 2011 EFSA set a group ADI of 300 mg/kg body weight per day for the four caramel colours E150a–d. A 2012 assessment with new use data concluded that combined intake of all four did not exceed this group ADI in any population group.
Is E150a permitted in Vietnam?
Yes. Caramel I – plain caramel (INS 150a) is listed in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, the list of additives permitted in food, with the function colour.
Other colours
E150Caramel colour (class not printed)lowE150bCaustic sulphite caramel (caramel II)lowE150cAmmonia caramel (caramel III)lowE150dSulphite ammonia caramel (caramel IV)lowE151Brilliant black BNlowE153Vegetable carbonvery low
See all colours →Found in these products
Miến Acecook Good vị thịt heo băm (minced pork glass noodles)Acecook · instant noodles
Nước vải Yeo's (lychee drink)Yeo's · soft drinks and flavoured drinksBắp rang Darda Cinema vị caramel bơ (caramel & butter popcorn)Darda · snacksKhô bò Hoang Phat Phat sốt X.O kiểu Hồng Kông (XO sauce beef jerky)Hoàng Phát Phát · jerky and meat flossUpdated 21 October 2026
Sources (3)
- EFSA Journal: Refined exposure assessment for caramel colours (E 150a, c, d) (2012).
- Thông tư 24/2019/TT-BYT (văn bản hợp nhất 09/VBHN-BYT), Phụ lục 2A và 2B: nhóm thực phẩm được phép dùng INS 150a
- EFSA Journal (2011). Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of caramel colours (E 150 a,b,c,d) as food additives