INS 150b is caustic sulphite caramel, also called Class II caramel. It is made by heating sugar with sulphite reactants but no ammonia. It is more common in European brandy-style spirits and some sauces than on typical Indian packets. It is generally vegan and is permitted by FSSAI for specified food categories.
INS 150b is caustic sulphite caramel, also called Class II caramel. It is made by heating sugar with sulphite reactants but no ammonia. It is more common in European brandy-style spirits and some sauces than on typical Indian packets.
Brands choose Class II when a recipe needs a darker, redder caramel shade than plain caramel can give and where the slight sulphite character does not interfere with the flavour. It is rarer on Indian shelves than the other three caramel classes.
INS 150b commonly shows up on Indian packets in these categories:
Class II caramel is made by heating plant-derived carbohydrates with sulphite compounds. 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.
JECFA: ADI 0-160 mg/kg body weight for Class II caustic sulphite caramel, established at 55th JECFA (2000). Specifications updated at 74th JECFA (2011).
On packets, in recipes, and in conversation, INS 150b is also called:
Last verified: 2026-04-30.