Caramel Sauce

Caramel sauce is a sweet, brown sauce made by heating sugar until it melts and turns amber or brown. It can be made with just sugar, or with added ingredients like butter, cream, and vanilla for a richer flavor and smoother texture.

Manufacturers use caramel sauce primarily for its sweet flavor and appealing brown color. It's a popular addition to desserts like ice cream, cakes, cookies, and pastries, adding moisture and a distinct caramel taste.

Caramel coloring, a common ingredient in caramel sauce, is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. Some forms of caramel coloring (Class III and IV) can contain small amounts of 4-MEI, a byproduct of the manufacturing process. Regulatory bodies like EFSA have evaluated caramel colorings and established acceptable daily intakes. JECFA has also evaluated caramel colors. At typical consumption levels, caramel sauce is not associated with adverse health effects.