Digestoa
Additive · Colour

Plain caramel (E150A)

Plain caramel (E150A) is a colour that Digestoa rates as low concern — it's considered safe at the levels used in food.

Digestoa riskLow risk
TypeColour
Found inbrightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts

What is Plain caramel?

Plain caramel (E150A) is a colour — added to give food a specific colour.

Is Plain caramel bad for you?

Plain caramel is permitted in food and Digestoa rates it as low concern. There's no strong evidence it causes harm at the levels typically used in food.

What foods contain Plain caramel?

Brightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts.

Digestoa's take

You don't need to avoid Plain caramel. It's one of the more benign things on an ingredients list — worth knowing, not worth worrying about.

Safer swaps

Choose products coloured with natural extracts like beetroot (E162), paprika (E160c) or turmeric (E100).

Frequently asked questions

Is E150A the same as Plain caramel?
Yes — E150A is the international additive (E-number) code for Plain caramel.
Is Plain caramel bad for you?
Digestoa rates Plain caramel (E150A) as low concern. It's permitted in food and considered safe at normal dietary levels.
What are the side effects of Plain caramel?
No significant side effects are associated with Plain caramel at the levels used in food.
What foods contain Plain caramel?
Brightly coloured sweets, soft drinks, breakfast cereals, snacks and desserts.
How can I avoid Plain caramel?
Check the ingredients list for "Plain caramel" or "E150A", or scan the product with Digestoa to see if it's present before you buy.

Related colour additives

Titanium dioxide (E171)Tartrazine (E102)Quinoline Yellow (E104)Sunset Yellow FCF (E110)Azorubine / Carmoisine (E122)Ponceau 4R (E124)

Risk ratings reflect Digestoa's editorial assessment synthesising EFSA/IARC opinions and peer-reviewed research. Informational only — not medical advice.