Caramel color is a common ingredient in colas and other dark soft drinks, and a possible human carcinogen—4-methylimidazole (4-MEI)—is formed during the manufacture of some kinds of the coloring.
On average, three of the brands—Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero—came in under 5 micrograms per can in our tests, a level Consumer Reports' experts believe is more acceptable. Sprite, a clear soda that was tested as a control, showed no significant levels of 4-MeI.
Caramel Color
Caramel is an FDA-approved color added to dark sodas like root beer and coke.
As the recipe has been modified over the years, the soda now gets its caramel color from a mixture containing compound 4-methylimidazole, also known as 4-MI or 4-MEI.
Caramel coloring is what typically gives cola drinks (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, root beer, etc.) their dark brown color.
Coca-Cola Clear is a colorless variant of the soft drink Coca-Cola. Without the normal caramel ingredient, Coca-Cola Clear has none of the typical dark Coke color. The drink is lemon-flavored to compensate for the removed caramel.
Coca-cola is brown because it contains added caramel color. Caramel color is a commonly used food coloring and is listed on the Coca-Cola label. The kola nut, which is the origin of the word cola has a red-brown color and was likely the inspiration behind the colors used in Coca-Cola's branding.
COCA-COLA Original is a Cola flavored carbonated drink, comes in a practical can of 330 ml. Enjoy its freshness by drinking it when it's cold. CARBONATED WATER, SUGAR, NATURAL CARAMEL COLOR (CLASS IV), ACIDITY REGULATORS (PHOSPHORIC ACID), KOLA CONCENTRATE, CAFFEINE.
The second ingredient, caramel coloring, gives the drink its distinctive dark brown color. There are four types of caramel coloring — Coca Cola uses type E150d, which is made by heating sugars with sulfite and ammonia to create bitter brown liquid.
When regulations for 4-MEI were instituted in California, we moved immediately to reformulate our cola beverages with a caramel color that lowered the amount of 4-MEI in our products, and these changes have since been implemented around the world.
Ingredients. Carbonated Water, Colour (Caramel E150d), Acid (Phosphoric Acid), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame-K), Natural Flavourings, Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrates).
Caramel colour – A very specific caramel is made especially for Coca-Cola, to give the drink its characteristic colour. Phosphoric Acid – The tartness of Coca-Cola comes from the use of phosphoric acid.
Raw materials are derived from sugars and they are physically modified through a traditional food preparation process (heating)4 but when the end product is also subject to some chemical modification, caramel colours are not considered “natural” in the sense of occurring in nature or being directly derived from ...
Coca-Cola has a distinct smell and taste because of the combination of ingredients used in its recipe. The key ingredients in Coca-Cola include carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine.
Caramel sauce is made by mixing caramelized sugar with cream. Depending on the intended application, additional ingredients such as butter, fruit purees, liquors, or vanilla can be used. Caramel sauce is used in a range of desserts, especially as a topping for ice cream.
Generally, yes. Caramel color is derived from natural sources (sugar or corn). But so are compounds like high fructose corn syrup. Certainly, the form of sugar used in creating the caramel color will be a refined product.
Caramel colors have been regulated color additives in the United States since the 1940's, and following the passage of the 1958 Food Additives Amendment, were included on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) list of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances (CFR 182.1235).
The main ingredient in the syrup used in the United States is a sweetener called high-fructose corn syrup 55, so named because it is 55 percent fructose, or “fruit sugar,” and 42 percent glucose, or “simple sugar”— the same ratio of fructose to glucose as in natural honey.
If your child must have a soft drink, try 7-Up, Squirt, or Sprite. These brands are naturally flavored and free of dyes — though they all contain sodium benzoate, except Sierra Mist NATURAL.
Yes, McDonald's Coke is real Coke. Between the special transportation method, the pre-chilling process, and the ratio of syrup used to ice, McDonald's Coke is going to taste a little fresher. But it's as real as Coke can get!
None of the carcinogen was found in Sprite, which is what you'd expect since Sprite isn't caramel-colored brown.
In regular sodas, the sugar causes dopamine releases in the brain, stimulating pleasure centers. For some, it's not the ingredients that causes the addiction, but the lifestyle habit that leads you to the fridge. Soda is often chosen with certain meals, like when you're dining out or at a fast food restaurant.
Story highlights. A chemical found in many sodas may be dangerous to your health, Consumer Reports says. And no, it's not sugar (this time). The golden-brown color of many soft drinks comes with a dose of the chemical 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MeI.
Soda. Soft drinks, especially those with cherry, strawberry or raspberry flavoring, may contain some dyes. Some orange soda, such as Crush, may also contain red dye. Certain brands of iced tea and juice may also contain small amounts of red dye for coloring, such as Brisk Raspberry Iced Tea.
CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, LESS THAN 2% OF: CITRIC ACID, NATURAL FLAVORS, SODIUM BENZOATE (TO PROTECT TASTE), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN, YELLOW 6, RED 40.