Ingredient Index · E150d

Is Caramel Color IV banned in Europe?

Restricted in EU

No: caramel color IV (E150d) is permitted in both the EU and the US. The EU caps its 4-MEI byproduct at 200 mg/kg, and California's Prop 65 pushed US makers of major colas to reduce 4-MEI too.

E-number: E150dCAS: 8028-89-5 Also seen as: E150d, Sulfite ammonia caramel, Caramel IV, Ammonia sulfite process caramel

What the EU does

Permitted, with a cap on the byproduct that actually worries people. Caramel color IV, also called sulfite ammonia caramel, is authorized as colorant E150d under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 for specific food categories at set maximum levels. It is the dark caramel color that gives colas and some sauces their brown.

The real concern is not the colorant itself but 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MEI, a compound that forms during the ammonia-sulfite process used to make E150d. EU specifications under Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 limit 4-MEI in the colorant to a maximum of 200 mg/kg. Worth noting: the other caramel color classes, E150a, E150b, and E150c, do not carry the same 4-MEI concern, because they are made differently.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (E150d); Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 (4-MEI max 200 mg/kg)

What the US does

Permitted federally, with the action happening at the state level. The FDA lists caramel as an approved color additive exempt from certification (21 CFR 73.85), and caramel color IV is widely used in US colas, sauces, and dark beverages.

California changed the math. Its Proposition 65 lists 4-MEI as a carcinogen, which triggered a warning-label requirement above a set exposure threshold. Rather than carry the warning, major manufacturers reformulated their dark caramel colors to cut 4-MEI for products sold in California, and in practice often nationwide. So the US story is a reverse of the usual pattern: a state rule, not a federal one, did the work the EU specification does by default.

Citation 21 CFR 73.85 (caramel); California Proposition 65 (4-MEI listing)

Products that commonly contain it

Caramel color IV is the deep-brown colorant in many familiar products:

Cola sodas, including the major national brands
Soy sauce and dark cooking sauces
Dark beers and some malt beverages
Gravy mixes, balsamic glazes, and brown packaged sauces

What to look for on a label

Caramel color is rarely broken out by class on the label, so:

"Caramel color" in a US ingredient list usually does not tell you the class
"E150d" on EU labels specifically means the ammonia-sulfite (4-MEI-relevant) type
A California Prop 65 warning on a dark soda can be a tell that 4-MEI is in play
E150a to E150c are different caramel classes without the 4-MEI concern, but US labels rarely distinguish them

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Frequently asked questions

Is caramel color IV banned in Europe?

No. Caramel color IV (E150d) is authorized as a colorant under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The EU does cap its 4-MEI byproduct at 200 mg/kg through additive specifications.

What is 4-MEI and why does it matter?

4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) is a compound that forms when caramel color IV is made by the ammonia-sulfite process. California Prop 65 lists it as a carcinogen, and the EU limits it in the colorant to 200 mg/kg.

Did Coca-Cola and Pepsi change their caramel color?

Yes. After California Prop 65 listed 4-MEI, major manufacturers reformulated their dark caramel colors to reduce 4-MEI for the California market, and often nationwide, to avoid a warning label.

Are all caramel colors a concern?

No. Only caramel color IV (E150d) and, to a lesser degree, E150c involve the ammonia process tied to 4-MEI. The plain and caustic-sulfite classes (E150a, E150b) do not carry the same concern.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed June 15, 2026 · How we assign statuses