Ingredient

Natural Caramel Color

Source
Unknown
Not yet classified by editors
Allergen
No
Role in food
Manufacturers add natural caramel color to provide or enhance the brown color in a …

What is Natural Caramel Color?

Natural caramel color is a coloring derived from heating carbohydrates, such as sugar or corn syrup. The heating process, called caramelization, can involve acids, alkalis, or sulfites, depending on the specific type of caramel color. The resulting product ranges in color from light yellow to dark brown.

Is Natural Caramel Color gluten-free?

It does not contain gluten.

Is Natural Caramel Color a major allergen?

Natural caramel color is not derived from any of the nine FDA major allergens.

What is Natural Caramel Color used for?

Manufacturers add natural caramel color to provide or enhance the brown color in a wide variety of foods.

Is Natural Caramel Color safe?

Natural caramel color is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food.

Why it's used

Manufacturers add natural caramel color to provide or enhance the brown color in a wide variety of foods. It is commonly found in baked goods, beverages, sauces, soups, and confectionery products. Its primary function is to give foods an appealing, rich brown hue.

Health notes

Natural caramel color is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA for use in food. Regulatory bodies like JECFA and EFSA have evaluated caramel colors. Some studies have raised questions about certain compounds that can be formed during caramelization, particularly 4-MEI (4-methylimidazole), which is found in some Class III and IV caramel colors. However, at the levels typically found in food, caramel colors are considered safe for consumption.

Allergen info

Natural caramel color is not derived from any of the nine FDA major allergens. It does not contain gluten.

Foods that contain Natural Caramel Color

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Reed's, Flying Cauldron, Cream Soda, Butterscotch Beer, Butterscotch Beer Reed's, Inc. Reed's, Flying Cauldron, Cream Soda, Butterscotch Beer, Butterscotch Beer Soda 34kcal 0Protein 0Fat 8.4Carbs Vosges, Barcelona Bar, Hickory Smoked Almonds, Sea Salt, Deep Milk Chocolate Vosges, Ltd. Vosges, Barcelona Bar, Hickory Smoked Almonds, Sea Salt, Deep Milk Chocolate Chocolate High in saturated fat — 45% DV per serving 558kcal 4.7Protein 39.5Fat 46.5Carbs Vegetable Vietnamese Pho Delicious Rice Noodle Soup Bowl, Vegetable Vietnamese Pho Snapdragon Foods LLC Vegetable Vietnamese Pho Delicious Rice Noodle Soup Bowl, Vegetable Vietnamese Pho Other Soups High in sodium — 54% DV per serving 350kcal 6.7Protein 2.5Fat 75Carbs Mushroom Vietnamese Pho Delicious Rice Noodle Soup Bowl, Mushroom Vietnamese Pho Snapdragon Foods LLC Mushroom Vietnamese Pho Delicious Rice Noodle Soup Bowl, Mushroom Vietnamese Pho Other Soups High in sodium — 56% DV per serving 350kcal 6.7Protein 3.3Fat 73.3Carbs Wisconsin Maple Root Beer Craft Soda, Maple Sprecher Brewing Company, Inc. Wisconsin Maple Root Beer Craft Soda, Maple Soda High in added sugars — 88% DV per serving 56kcal 0Protein 0Fat 13.8Carbs BBQ Sauce, Original Sonoma Country Foods BBQ Sauce, Original Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ & Cheese Sauce 100kcal 3.3Protein 3.3Fat 20Carbs S'Mores Cotton Candy, S'Mores Pete's Pancakes S'Mores Cotton Candy, S'Mores Candy High in added sugars — 44% DV per serving 400kcal 0Protein 0Fat 100Carbs Cookies & Cream Cotton Candy, Cookies & Cream Pete's Pancakes Cookies & Cream Cotton Candy, Cookies & Cream Candy High in added sugars — 44% DV per serving 400kcal 0Protein 0Fat 100Carbs Frosted Donut Cotton Candy, Frosted Donut Pete's Pancakes Frosted Donut Cotton Candy, Frosted Donut Candy High in added sugars — 44% DV per serving 400kcal 0Protein 0Fat 100Carbs Healthy Soda Cola Ketchapaw Enterprises Healthy Soda Cola Soda 0kcal 0Protein 0Fat 0Carbs Root Beer Float Cotton Candy, Root Beer Float Pete's Pancakes Root Beer Float Cotton Candy, Root Beer Float Candy High in added sugars — 44% DV per serving 400kcal 0Protein 0Fat 100Carbs Low-Cal Root Beer Fire-Brewed Craft Soda, Low-Cal Root Beer Sprecher Brewing Company, Inc. Low-Cal Root Beer Fire-Brewed Craft Soda, Low-Cal Root Beer Soda 9kcal 0Protein 0Fat 2.1Carbs
Red 40 (29042 products) Caramel Color (26361 products) Yellow 5 (22110 products) Blue 1 (21089 products) Paprika (17550 products) Yellow 6 (16918 products) Turmeric (12460 products) Annatto (11632 products)

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Last updated: September 28, 2026

Note: This site presents label data from USDA FoodData Central for general information. It is not medical advice. Check the package label; formulations change.