Caramel coloring
Other names E150, Caramel color
Caramel coloring: moderate in histamine and salicylate; low in sucrose. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Moderate
Plain caramel (E150a) is sugar and heat, nothing else - no ammonia, no sulfite - and it therefore has no established histamine route at all. When a label says simply 'caramel colour' it does not tell you which of the four grades it is, and that is the whole difficulty: two of them carry sulfite and two do not.
Sources· 2
- EFSA re-evaluation of caramel colours, 2011
- Maintz & Novak, Am J Clin Nutr 2007
- SalicylateModerate
Caramel colour is made by heating sugar, and the compounds formed are not salicylate — it appears on elimination lists because of reported reactions, not chemical kinship.
Sources· 1
- Baenkler H-W., Dtsch Arztebl Int 105:8 (2008) 137-142, salicylate intolerance - mechanism, clinical spectrum, diagnosis and treatment
- SucroseLow
Caramel colour starts as sugar and is heated until it browns, which destroys much of the sucrose - how much depends on how far the caramelisation was taken, and that varies by grade. It is used for colour, in small amounts.
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- GlutenNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- TyramineNone
- NickelNone
- OxalatesNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)? Check these too
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does Caramel coloring affect?
Caramel coloring is notable for histamine, salicylate and sucrose. Clear on FODMAPs, lactose, gluten, fructose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, tyramine, nickel and oxalates.
Does Caramel coloring contain histamine?
Caramel coloring contains moderate levels of histamine. Plain caramel (E150a) is sugar and heat, nothing else - no ammonia, no sulfite - and it therefore has no established histamine route at all. When a label says simply 'caramel colour' it does not tell you which of the four grades it is, and that is the whole difficulty: two of them carry sulfite and two do not.
Does Caramel coloring contain salicylate?
Caramel coloring contains moderate levels of salicylate. Caramel colour is made by heating sugar, and the compounds formed are not salicylate — it appears on elimination lists because of reported reactions, not chemical kinship.
Does Caramel coloring contain sucrose?
Caramel coloring contains only low levels of sucrose. Caramel colour starts as sugar and is heated until it browns, which destroys much of the sucrose - how much depends on how far the caramelisation was taken, and that varies by grade. It is used for colour, in small amounts. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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