E150 - Caramel colour
By the Daat team · Updated October 30, 2026
E150 is caramel colour: sugar heated until it turns brown, used to colour food.
There are four classes, a to d, depending on what is added during heating. E150d is the one in cola; the others turn up in soy sauce, dark bread, beer and gravies.
In our catalog it is most common in drinks. A brown loaf coloured with caramel is not necessarily wholemeal, so check the flour in the ingredients.
In Daat’s catalog we found E150 in 333 of 16,831 products (2.0%), mostly in drinks and sauces, spreads and salads.
E150 at a glance
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Caramel colour |
| Also listed as | E150a, E150b, E150c, E150d |
| Function | Colour |
| Origin | Plant, mineral or synthetic |
| Vegan / vegetarian | Yes / Yes |
Is E150 vegan?
Yes. E150 has no animal source, so it suits both vegans and vegetarians.