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Plain caramel (E150A)
Plain caramel is a colour (brown) used in cola drinks, sauces, sweets, bread.. The EFSA acceptable daily intake is 300 mg per kg of body weight per day — about 18 000 mg a day for a 60 kg adult.
What it does
Made by heating sugar; not the burnt-sugar flavour of home caramel.
Where you meet it
Cola drinks, sauces, sweets, bread.
What the ADI means in practice
18 000 mg per day is the figure for a 60 kg adult — multiply or divide for your own weight. EFSA derives ADIs with a safety margin of typically 100×, and they describe daily lifetime intake. A single day above the ADI does not translate to harm; a permanent diet above it is what the limit exists to prevent.
This page describes the general scientific position. Allergies and sensitivities are individual: if your body disagrees with an additive, avoid it regardless of any ADI.
Sources: EFSA — food additives re-evaluations · Open Food Facts — additives taxonomy · checked 2026-09-03
Frequently asked questions
What is Plain caramel (E150A)?
Colour (brown). Made by heating sugar; not the burnt-sugar flavour of home caramel. It is used in Cola drinks, sauces, sweets, bread.
How much plain caramel is safe?
EFSA set the ADI at 300 mg per kg body weight per day — 18 000 mg per day for a 60 kg adult, every day for a lifetime. It is a long-run average, not a single-meal limit.
Should I avoid plain caramel?
For a healthy adult there is no reason to avoid it at typical intakes. If you have a diagnosed sensitivity or a health condition, your clinician's advice is the one that counts.
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