Foods Containing E150b (Caustic Sulphite Caramel)
E150b (Caustic Sulphite Caramel) is made by heating sugars with sulphite compounds, used as a food colouring to help add or restore colour to foods and drinks. Here's where you're most likely to find it on food labels.
Common foods that contain E150b
E150b is used across sweets, soft drinks, desserts, ice cream, sauces and snacks. The foods where it appears most often include:
- Sweets
- Soft drinks
- Desserts
- Ice cream
- Sauces and snacks
Exact usage varies by brand and recipe — the only way to know for certain whether a specific product contains E150b is to check its ingredients list, where it must be declared by law, either as "E150b" or as "Caustic Sulphite Caramel".
How to spot E150b on a label
In the UK and EU, additives must appear in the ingredients list with their function and either their E-number or full name — for example "food colourings: E150b" or "food colourings: caustic sulphite caramel". In the US the E-number system isn't used, so look for the full name "Caustic Sulphite Caramel" instead.
Should you avoid foods containing E150b?
E150b is considered safe. It is authorised across the EU, UK and US, and safety evaluations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have not identified health concerns at the levels used in food. For most people there is no reason to avoid E150b.
Full guide to E150b: safety, vegan and halal status →
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Additive data sourced from Open Food Facts (ODbL licence) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).