Is Caramel Candy Acidic or Alkaline?
Caramel candy (prepared) is neutral: PRAL close to zero: hardly shifts your acid-base balance.
Classification
At −0.5, caramel candies are just barely in the neutral range. Sugar and syrup contain no minerals, and the bit of butter and cream adds tiny amounts of potassium and protein that nearly cancel each other out. The value doesn't mean candy is harmless: PRAL measures only the mineral balance and says nothing about sugar or the 500 kcal per 100 g.
In the Sweets & Snacks category, caramel candy (prepared) ranks #34 of 91, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Chocolate marshmallow kiss (−0.5), Strawberry sponge cake (−0.6), Ice cream, vanilla (−0.6). More acid-forming are Chocolate mousse (−0.5), Plum cake (−0.4), Chocolate pudding (−0.4).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is caramel candy acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Caramel candy (prepared) has a PRAL of −0.5 per 100 g, so it counts as neutral in your daily acid-base balance.
Does caramel candy count in the acid-base balance at all?
Hardly. At −0.5 per 100 g, caramel candy is in the neutral range between −0.5 and +0.5. You can eat it without shifting your balance.
Caramel Candy logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Sweets & Snacks: Sweets & Snacks table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.