What is E 150c?
E 150c is the E number of Ammonia caramel. Brown colour made by heating sugars with ammonium compounds. It is used in beer, sauces and baked goods.
What is E 150c used for?
E 150c belongs to the group "Colours" and is used as colour.
- Colour: Colours add or restore colour in a food.
Which foods may contain E 150c?
According to the European Commission's database, E 150c may be used in 58 food categories and subcategories, each only in specific products and usually with maximum levels. The categories come from these areas:
- Dairy products and analogues
- Edible ices
- Fruit and vegetables
- Confectionery
- Cereals and cereal products
- Bakery wares
- Meat
- Fish and fisheries products
- Salts, spices, soups, sauces, salads and protein products
- Foods for specific groups (infants, young children, special medical purposes)
- Beverages
- Ready-to-eat savouries and snacks
- Desserts
- Food supplements
- Processed foods not covered by categories 1 to 17
Is E 150c vegan?
Usually yes: the substance is normally made from plant, mineral or synthetic raw materials or with microorganisms. In individual cases, only the manufacturer or a vegan label can give certainty.
Is E 150c linked to genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering: May be obtained from plants for which genetically modified varieties exist, such as soya, maize, rapeseed or sugar beet. If the substance comes from a GM plant, this must be stated on the label in the EU (Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003).
In food labelled "ohne Gentechnik" and in organic food, such substances from or by genetically modified organisms are excluded in principle.
How does E 150c appear on the label?
In the list of ingredients, the substance appears with its function, followed by the E number or the name, for example "Colour: E 150c" or "Colour: Ammonia caramel".
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, consolidated version of 18.08.2026, Annexes I and II, EUR-Lex
- Food Additives Database, European Commission (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed, EUR-Lex