INS 150a is plain caramel, also called caustic caramel or Class I caramel. It is the food-industry version of caramelised sugar, made by heating sugar without ammonia or sulphite reactants. It gives mithai, kulfi, and bakery products their warm brown shade. It is generally vegan and is permitted by FSSAI for specified food categories.
INS 150a is plain caramel, also called caustic caramel or Class I caramel. It is the food-industry version of caramelised sugar, made by heating sugar without ammonia or sulphite reactants. It gives mithai, kulfi, and bakery products their warm brown shade.
Brands use it because it is the simplest caramel and the easiest to label cleanly: just heated sugar, no extra reactants. It is the typical choice when a recipe wants a 'natural caramelised sugar' look in mithai, sweets coating, kulfi, biscuits, and dairy desserts.
INS 150a commonly shows up on Indian packets in these categories:
Class I caramel is made by heating plant-derived carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose syrup, invert sugar). No animal product is used in its manufacture.
FSSAI: Permitted by FSSAI under Schedule I of the FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 as a colour for specified food categories with category-specific limits. The four caramel classes (150a/b/c/d) have separate JECFA specifications and different category-level caps.
JECFA: ADI 'not specified' for Class I plain caramel (29th JECFA, 1985). 'Not specified' is JECFA's safest classification: total dietary intake at typical use levels is not considered a hazard. Specifications updated at 74th JECFA (2011).
On packets, in recipes, and in conversation, INS 150a is also called:
Last verified: 2026-04-30.