INS 150d is the code for sulphite ammonia caramel
The dark brown colour of colas and some sauces. Class IV caramel, made by heating sugars with ammonium and sulphite compounds.
- What it does
- Colours the food A colour
- Also printed as
- Caramel colour class IV
- Vegetarian?
- Vegetarian Made chemically
- In the Zabel score
- 6 of the 20 additive points Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 210 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 150d vegetarian?
INS 150d is made chemically, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
| Food category | Share | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuits and cookies | 28% | |
| Carbonated soft drinks | 21% | |
| Noodles and pasta | 19% | |
| Breakfast cereals | 8% | |
| Ice cream and frozen desserts | 5% | |
| Everything else | 19% |
Counted from the 210 packs in Zabel's catalogue that list INS 150d, 193 of which have a food category so far. Counted 4 Nov 2026.
What does the evidence say about INS 150d?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
The ammonia process can form 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) as a by-product. JECFA has set an ADI for class IV caramel and considers exposure at permitted levels acceptable; California lists 4-MEI under Proposition 65. Plain caramelised sugar (INS 150a) carries no such by-product.
Does Zabel mark INS 150d down?
Yes, by 6 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 150d?
INS 150d is the code for sulphite ammonia caramel, a colour. The dark brown colour of colas and some sauces. Class IV caramel, made by heating sugars with ammonium and sulphite compounds.
Is INS 150d vegetarian?
INS 150d is made chemically, so it does not by itself make a food non-vegetarian. The green or brown mark on the pack is still the declaration to go by, because it covers every other ingredient too.
What does the evidence say about INS 150d?
The ammonia process can form 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) as a by-product. JECFA has set an ADI for class IV caramel and considers exposure at permitted levels acceptable; California lists 4-MEI under Proposition 65. Plain caramelised sugar (INS 150a) carries no such by-product.
Does Zabel mark INS 150d down?
Yes, by 6 points. The additives part of the score starts at 20, and each code takes off a fixed amount set by the strength of the evidence about it, not by the fact that it is an additive (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 150d printed under?
Packs also print it as Caramel colour class IV, or as the bare number 150d in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 General Standard for Food Additives (CXS 192-1995) Codex Alimentarius, 2023
- 03 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
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