Colour: Ammonia Caramel

Ammonia caramel is a dark brown food coloring produced by heating carbohydrates (like sugar) with ammonia compounds. The process creates a range of brown shades, from reddish-brown to dark brown, depending on the specific ingredients and cooking conditions.

This colorant is used to give foods a brown hue, mimicking natural browning or enhancing existing colors. It's commonly found in baked goods, candies, beverages, sauces, gravies, and processed meats.

Ammonia caramel is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use as a food colorant. International bodies like JECFA have evaluated it. While some studies have raised questions about certain compounds formed during caramelization, regulatory agencies consider it safe at typical consumption levels. The evidence regarding potential health effects is considered mixed by some researchers, but it is approved for use in the US.