Caramel Is A Safe Food Coloring

Author: Maryam Ayres Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

The European Food Safety Authority and leading regulatory institutions have reaffirmed the safety of the ingredient.

The presence of 4-MEI in caramel coloring does not pose a threat to consumer health, according to an official statement of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). From there, they categorically confirm that the caramel coloring used in the food and non-alcoholic industry is safe. The opinion is based on a detailed review of the currently available scientific evidence.

4-MEI is formed in certain foods such as caramel, for example, during heat treatment processes. Minimal amounts of the substance can be found in a large number of foods and beverages such as bread and pasta, coffee, beer, soy sauce and others, according to the Association of Manufacturers of soft drinks. This does not exclude its presence in home-made products.

Other leading regulators around the world also say the ingredient is safe to use in food and beverages.

In November 2011, the Ministry of Health in Canada announced that the substance 4-MEI, which is found in some caramel colors, "does not pose a risk" to consumers.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved caramel as a coloring ingredient and listed it as a "generally recognized safe food ingredient."

The comments of experts from the US Food and Drug Administration regarding a study by the Center for Public Interest Research (CSPI) linking caramel to an increased risk of cancer in rodents is that "the consumer must consume 1000 kena of soft drink per day in order to reach the doses indicated in the study ”, and this consumption must be continued throughout life.

Caramel Is A Safe Food Coloring

Related Articles