Is Sulphite ammonia caramel (E150d / INS 150d) Halal?
Sulphite ammonia caramel is generally considered halal. No animal-derived ingredient is part of how E150d is made, so it is generally treated as halal on ingredients.
Where it comes from
Caramel colours are made by heating carbohydrates such as glucose syrup or sucrose. EFSA divides them into four classes (E150a, E150b, E150c and E150d) by the reagent used in manufacture: ammonia, sulphite or none. E150d is the sulphite ammonia class. It is a dark brown colour used in drinks such as colas, sauces, confectionery and some baked goods.
Why this status?
No animal-derived ingredient is part of how E150d is made, so it is generally treated as halal on ingredients. The carbohydrates it starts from, such as glucose syrup or sucrose, are not animal-derived.
The point worth checking is the form it is sold in: a liquid colour can be sold in a carrier that the finished product's label does not state, and a halal-certified product removes the question. EFSA's 2011 re-evaluation set a group ADI of 300 mg per kg of body weight per day for all four caramel colours and concluded that the highest possible exposure to 4-MEI, a by-product found in E150c and E150d, did not give rise to concern. That page is from 2011 and is marked outdated, so check EFSA's current opinions. This is general information, not a religious ruling or medical advice.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is general information, not a religious ruling. The status above is unchanged.
What it is
Sulphite ammonia caramel, labeled E150d, is one of four caramel colours. EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, explains that the four classes (E150a, E150b, E150c and E150d) are defined by the reagent used in manufacture: ammonia, sulphite, or none. Caramel colours are made by heating carbohydrates, and E150d is the dark brown class made with sulphite and ammonia compounds.
Where it appears in food
Caramel colours are used in drinks such as colas, and in sauces, confectionery, baked goods, meat products and ready meals. Because the same word covers all four classes, a product that lists only caramel colour or caramel color does not tell you which class it contains.
Is it halal
E150d is made from carbohydrates and chemical reagents, with no animal-derived ingredient in the process, so it is generally treated as halal on ingredients. The practical question is the product it comes in. A liquid colour can be sold in a carrier that the finished food's label does not state, and a halal certificate on the product removes that question. This is general information and not a religious ruling; if you want a ruling, ask a qualified scholar.
What the safety review says
EFSA's 2011 re-evaluation set a group acceptable daily intake of 300 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day for all four caramel colours, and a stricter 100 milligrams for E150c only. It concluded that the highest possible exposure to 4-methylimidazole, a by-product found in E150c and E150d, did not give rise to concern, and it recommended keeping by-products as low as technologically feasible. EFSA's page on this is from 2011 and is marked outdated, so current EFSA opinions are the place to check for newer figures.
Reading a label
In the EU, look for E150d or sulphite ammonia caramel. Elsewhere the label may say only caramel colour. If the class matters to you, or you want to confirm the carrier, ask the manufacturer.
In short
In short, E150d is a plant-carbohydrate-based colour with no animal ingredient in its manufacture, so it is generally treated as halal on ingredients. The label often does not name the class or the carrier, and a halal certificate or a question to the maker settles both.
Also listed on labels as
Sulphite ammonia caramel can appear on an ingredient list as caramel color, caramel colour, class IV caramel, caramel IV, INS 150d, E150d.
Checking the product
This ingredient is generally halal, but the finished product can include other ingredients that raise questions, so read the whole list and look for a halal certificate where you need assurance.
Sources
- EFSA reviews safety of caramel colours (2011) — Regulatory
Reviewed by Habib Aman, Islamic Scholar, MBA — last reviewed October 19, 2026.
This is general guidance for everyday shopping, not a religious ruling. Formulations vary by manufacturer and country — confirm with the manufacturer or your local scholar when it matters.
Checking a whole product?
SafaScan is a halal scanner app that is coming soon. It will check Sulphite ammonia caramel and every other ingredient on a product. Sign up for launch updates. Learn about SafaScan.
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