E-Code Reference: Halal Status of Food Additives
Every E-code you see on a label, with a clear halal / suspect / not halal verdict and the reason behind it. Use the search to jump to a specific code, or scan the table below.
How to read this table
- Halal — the additive is permissible in all common forms (typically plant-, mineral-, or microbial-derived).
- Suspect (Mashbooh) — the source determines the verdict, and labels rarely disclose the source. Avoid unless the product carries halal certification or specifies a halal source.
- Not halal — the additive is typically derived from non-halal animal sources (commonly pork) or insects.
Halal status can vary by manufacturer. The table reflects the typical industrial source. For products carrying recognized halal certification (HMC, JAKIM, MUI, ISA, IFANCA), follow the certificate.
HalalSuspectNot halal
| E-Code | Common name | Function | Halal status | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
E100 | Curcumin (turmeric) | Color (yellow) | Halal | Plant-derived (turmeric rhizome). |
E101 | Riboflavin (B2) | Color (yellow) | Suspect | Usually microbial/synthetic. Animal-derived forms exist; verify source. |
E102 | Tartrazine | Color (yellow) | Halal | Synthetic azo dye. |
E104 | Quinoline Yellow | Color (yellow) | Halal | Synthetic dye. |
E110 | Sunset Yellow FCF | Color (orange) | Halal | Synthetic. |
E120 | Carmine / Cochineal | Color (red) | Not halal | Extracted from crushed cochineal insects. Most scholars classify insect derivatives as not halal. |
E122 | Carmoisine | Color (red) | Halal | Synthetic azo dye. |
E124 | Ponceau 4R | Color (red) | Halal | Synthetic azo dye. |
E127 | Erythrosine | Color (red) | Halal | Synthetic dye. |
E129 | Allura Red AC | Color (red) | Halal | Synthetic. |
E131 | Patent Blue V | Color (blue) | Halal | Synthetic. |
E132 | Indigo carmine | Color (blue) | Halal | Synthetic. |
E133 | Brilliant Blue FCF | Color (blue) | Halal | Synthetic dye. |
E140 | Chlorophyll | Color (green) | Halal | Plant-derived. |
E141 | Copper complexes of chlorophyll | Color (green) | Halal | Plant-derived chlorophyll, copper-complexed. No animal involvement. |
E142 | Green S | Color (green) | Halal | Synthetic dye. |
E150a | Plain caramel | Color (brown) | Halal | Heated carbohydrate; no animal involvement. |
E150c | Ammonia caramel | Color (brown) | Halal | Heated carbohydrate with ammonia compounds; no animal involvement. |
E150d | Sulphite ammonia caramel | Color (brown) | Halal | Synthetic. |
E153 | Vegetable carbon | Color (black) | Suspect | Labelled "vegetable carbon" it is plant-derived and halal, but generic carbon black can be made from animal bone char. Verify the source. |
E160a | Beta-carotene | Color (orange) | Suspect | Plant origin = halal; gelatin coating on the carrier (especially in beadlets) is the concern. |
E160b | Annatto | Color (orange) | Halal | Plant-derived (annatto seed extract). |
E160c | Paprika extract | Color (red) | Halal | Plant-derived (paprika / capsicum). |
E160e | Beta-apo-8-carotenal | Color (orange) | Suspect | Synthetic carotenoid colour; like E160a, a gelatin coating on the carrier or beadlet is the concern. |
E161b | Lutein | Color (yellow) | Halal | Plant-derived (marigold). |
E161g | Canthaxanthin | Color (orange) | Halal | Synthetic. |
E162 | Beetroot red / Betanin | Color (red) | Halal | Plant-derived (beetroot). |
E163 | Anthocyanins | Color (purple) | Halal | Plant-derived (grape skin, berries). |
E170 | Calcium carbonate | Color / anti-caking agent | Halal | Mineral (limestone / chalk). |
E171 | Titanium dioxide | Color (white) | Halal | Mineral-based pigment. (Banned in EU food on safety grounds, but halal in status.) |
E200 | Sorbic acid | Preservative | Halal | Synthetic / plant-derived. |
E202 | Potassium sorbate | Preservative | Halal | Synthetic / plant-derived. |
E211 | Sodium benzoate | Preservative | Halal | Synthetic. |
E220 | Sulphur dioxide | Preservative | Halal | Mineral / synthetic. |
E223 | Sodium metabisulphite | Preservative | Halal | Synthetic mineral salt. |
E250 | Sodium nitrite | Preservative (cured meats) | Suspect | Additive itself is halal; usage signals processed meat — verify the meat source. |
E270 | Lactic acid | Acidity regulator | Suspect | Usually fermentation-derived (halal); some industrial supplies use animal sources. Verify. |
E280 | Propionic acid | Preservative | Halal | Synthetic. |
E296 | Malic acid | Acidity regulator | Halal | Synthetic or fruit-derived. |
E300 | Ascorbic acid (Vit C) | Antioxidant | Halal | Synthetic / fermentation-derived. |
E321 | BHT | Antioxidant | Halal | Synthetic. |
E322 | Lecithin | Emulsifier | Suspect | Soy lecithin = halal; egg-yolk lecithin = halal but rare; without source, treat as suspect. |
E330 | Citric acid | Acidity regulator | Halal | Microbial fermentation. |
E331 | Sodium citrate | Acidity regulator | Halal | Salt of citric acid. |
E336 | Potassium tartrate (cream of tartar) | Acidity regulator | Suspect | Salt of tartaric acid, a by-product of winemaking; some scholars treat tartrates as doubtful for that reason. |
E338 | Phosphoric acid | Acidity regulator | Halal | Mineral / synthetic. |
E339 | Sodium phosphates | Acidity regulator | Halal | Mineral / synthetic phosphate salts. |
E340 | Potassium phosphates | Acidity regulator | Halal | Mineral / synthetic phosphate salts. |
E341 | Calcium phosphates | Acidity regulator | Halal | Mineral. |
E385 | Calcium disodium EDTA | Sequestrant | Halal | Synthetic. |
E392 | Rosemary extract | Antioxidant | Halal | Plant-derived (rosemary). |
E400 | Alginic acid | Thickener | Halal | Seaweed-derived. |
E401 | Sodium alginate | Thickener | Halal | Seaweed-derived. |
E405 | Propylene glycol alginate | Thickener | Halal | Seaweed-derived alginate, esterified. |
E406 | Agar | Gelling agent | Halal | Seaweed-derived; common halal substitute for gelatin. |
E407 | Carrageenan | Thickener | Halal | Seaweed-derived. |
E410 | Locust bean gum | Thickener | Halal | Plant-derived. |
E412 | Guar gum | Thickener | Halal | Plant-derived. |
E415 | Xanthan gum | Thickener | Halal | Microbial fermentation. |
E417 | Tara gum | Thickener | Halal | Plant-derived (tara seed). |
E420 | Sorbitol | Humectant / sweetener | Halal | Synthetic / plant-derived from glucose. |
E433 | Polysorbate 80 | Emulsifier | Suspect | The oleic-acid (fatty-acid) component can be plant- or animal-derived. Without a stated source, treat as doubtful. |
E440 | Pectin | Gelling agent | Halal | Plant-derived (citrus / apple). |
E441 | Gelatin | Gelling agent | Not halal | Typically derived from pork bones/skin in industrial markets. Halal/fish gelatin must be explicitly labeled. |
E442 | Ammonium phosphatides | Emulsifier | Suspect | Made from glycerol and fatty acids; the fatty-acid source may be animal. Verify. |
E450 | Diphosphates | Raising agent | Halal | Mineral / synthetic phosphate salts. |
E451 | Triphosphates | Stabiliser | Halal | Mineral / synthetic phosphate salts. |
E452 | Polyphosphates | Stabiliser | Halal | Mineral / synthetic phosphate salts. |
E460 | Cellulose | Bulking agent | Halal | Plant-derived (purified cellulose). |
E464 | Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose | Thickener | Halal | Plant-derived cellulose, chemically modified. |
E466 | Carboxymethyl cellulose | Thickener | Halal | Plant-derived cellulose, chemically modified. |
E470 | Salts of fatty acids | Emulsifier | Suspect | Plant- or animal-derived. Without source, treat as suspect. |
E470b | Magnesium salts of fatty acids | Emulsifier | Suspect | Fatty-acid component may be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E471 | Mono- and diglycerides | Emulsifier | Suspect | Plant- or animal-derived (incl. pork fat). "From vegetable origin" labelling makes it halal. |
E472a | Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides | Emulsifier | Suspect | Glyceride esters with the same source ambiguity as E471 — plant or animal (incl. pork) fat. |
E472b | Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides | Emulsifier | Suspect | Glyceride esters with the same source ambiguity as E471 — plant or animal fat. |
E472e | DATEM | Emulsifier (bread) | Suspect | Same source ambiguity as E471. |
E473 | Sucrose esters of fatty acids | Emulsifier | Suspect | Fatty-acid component may be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E475 | Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids | Emulsifier | Suspect | Both the glycerol and fatty-acid components can be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E476 | Polyglycerol polyricinoleate | Emulsifier | Suspect | Castor-oil based, but the polyglycerol (glycerol) component can be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E477 | Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids | Emulsifier | Suspect | Fatty-acid component may be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E481 | Sodium stearoyl lactylate | Emulsifier | Suspect | Stearate component may be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E482 | Calcium stearoyl lactylate | Emulsifier | Suspect | The stearoyl (stearic-acid) component may be animal-derived, like E481. Verify source. |
E491 | Sorbitan monostearate | Emulsifier | Suspect | The stearate (fatty-acid) component may be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E492 | Sorbitan tristearate | Emulsifier | Suspect | The stearate (fatty-acid) component may be animal-derived. Verify source. |
E500 | Sodium carbonate | Acidity regulator | Halal | Mineral / synthetic. |
E501 | Potassium carbonate | Acidity regulator | Halal | Mineral / synthetic. |
E503 | Ammonium carbonate | Raising agent | Halal | Mineral / synthetic. |
E509 | Calcium chloride | Firming agent | Halal | Mineral salt. |
E516 | Calcium sulphate | Firming agent | Halal | Mineral. |
E542 | Bone phosphate | Anticaking | Not halal | Derived from animal bones; without halal certification, treat as not halal. |
E551 | Silicon dioxide | Anticaking | Halal | Mineral. |
E570 | Stearic acid | Glazing / emulsifier | Suspect | Plant or animal source. Animal-derived (pork or beef tallow) is industrially common. |
E621 | MSG (monosodium glutamate) | Flavour enhancer | Halal | Microbial fermentation. |
E627 | Disodium guanylate | Flavour enhancer | Suspect | Often derived from fish or yeast; can come from meat by-products. Frequently paired with E631. Verify source. |
E631 | Disodium inosinate | Flavour enhancer | Suspect | Often derived from fish or meat by-products; verify source. |
E635 | Disodium ribonucleotides | Flavour enhancer | Suspect | Animal source possible (often combined with E631). Verify. |
E422 | Glycerol / Glycerin | Humectant / sweetener | Suspect | Plant- or animal-derived (including pork). Without "vegetable glycerin" labelling, treat as suspect. |
E901 | Beeswax | Glazing agent | Halal | Bee-derived; majority view considers it halal. |
E903 | Carnauba wax | Glazing agent | Halal | Plant-derived (carnauba palm leaves). |
E904 | Shellac | Glazing agent | Not halal | Insect-derived (lac beetle secretion); most scholars classify as not halal. |
E920 | L-Cysteine | Dough conditioner | Not halal | ~80% derived from human hair (typically not Islamically slaughtered if from animals); 8–10% from pig bristles. Synthetic forms exist but are rarely labeled. |
E951 | Aspartame | Sweetener | Halal | Synthetic sweetener made from two amino acids. |
E955 | Sucralose | Sweetener | Halal | Synthetic sweetener derived from sugar. |
E1100 | Amylase | Enzyme (baking) | Suspect | Microbial / plant / animal sources possible. Verify if "microbial enzyme" not stated. |
E1200 | Polydextrose | Bulking agent | Halal | Synthetic from glucose. |
E1404 | Oxidized starch | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived starch, chemically modified. No animal involvement. |
E1410 | Monostarch phosphate | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived. |
E1412 | Distarch phosphate | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived starch, modified with phosphate. No animal involvement. |
E1414 | Acetylated distarch phosphate | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived. |
E1420 | Acetylated starch | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived starch treated with acetic anhydride. No animal involvement. |
E1422 | Acetylated distarch adipate | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived. |
E1442 | Hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived starch, chemically modified. No animal involvement. |
E1450 | Starch sodium octenyl succinate | Modified starch | Halal | Plant-derived (starch + plant-based succinate). No animal involvement. |