E-Number Halal Checker
Check food additives (E-numbers) for halal status. Where animal-derived E-numbers hide, why the same code can be halal or mushbooh, and how to verify.
268
Total
190
Halal
4
Haram
45
Mushbooh
29
Vegan
All E-Numbers
268 resultsUnderstanding E-Numbers
E-numbers are codes for substances used as food additives in the European Union and some other countries. They are used to identify preservatives, colors, emulsifiers, and other additives.
✔ Halal
These additives are permissible and derived from plant, synthetic, or halal-certified sources.
✘ Haram
These additives are impermissible, typically derived from pork, non-halal animal sources, or alcohol.
? Mushbooh (Doubtful)
These may be halal or haram depending on the source. It's best to verify with the manufacturer.
🌱 Vegan/Plant-Based
These are derived entirely from plant or synthetic sources and are suitable for vegans.
Important Disclaimer
While we strive to provide accurate information, the halal status of E-numbers can vary based on the source of the ingredient. Many E-numbers can be derived from multiple sources (animal, plant, or synthetic). When in doubt, always check with the manufacturer or look for certified halal products. This tool is for informational purposes only and should not be the sole basis for dietary decisions.
An E-number tells you that an additive has been assessed and authorised for use in food in the European Union. It does not tell you what the substance was made from — and that is the only part a halal decision depends on. The same code, E471, can be manufactured from soy oil or from pork fat; the label reads identically either way. This page covers which codes carry real risk, why some are genuinely undecidable from a label, and how to get an answer when the packet will not give you one. Look individual codes up in the checker above, then use the tables below.
What an E-number is — and what it is not
The "E" stands for the European Union's authorised additive list: an E-number means the additive has passed a safety evaluation and is permitted in the EU, with a scope of use defined by regulation. The European Commission's additives pages publish the framework and the additives database is the authoritative record of what each authorised additive is and where it may be used; the European Food Safety Authority holds the underlying safety assessments. Three consequences matter for halal checking:
- • The number is about permission, not about origin. Nothing in the E-number system records whether a substance was synthesised, extracted from a plant, or rendered from an animal.
- • Other countries use other names. A product sold outside the EU may print "mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids" or a US code instead of "E471" — the substance is the same, so the halal question is the same.
- • An additive can be halal in one product and not in the next. Manufacturers switch suppliers, and the label does not change. This is why the answer for a specific packet often has to come from the manufacturer or from a halal certificate.
How the checker classifies an additive
| Status | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Halal / plant-based | Derived from plant, mineral or synthetic sources with no known animal route | E100 curcumin, E300 ascorbic acid, E330 citric acid, E440 pectin |
| Mushbooh / check | The same code can be produced from halal or non-halal sources — the source decides | E471 mono- and diglycerides, E422 glycerol, E570 fatty acids, E631 inosinate |
| Avoid | Commercially produced almost exclusively from a non-halal source, or from an impure one | E120 carmine, E441 gelatin, E542 bone phosphate, E904 shellac |
Animal-derived additives: the ones that actually matter
In practice the risk list is short. These are the codes worth checking every time, because their commercial source is either always animal or frequently animal:
| Code | Substance | Usual source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| E120 | Carmine / cochineal / carminic acid | Crushed scale insects | Red colouring; also listed as CI 75470. Widely avoided. |
| E441 | Gelatin | Animal skin and bone (often pork) | Gelling agent in desserts, marshmallows, sweets. |
| E542 | Bone phosphate | Animal bones (often from non-halal slaughter) | Anti-caking agent; also used in some supplements. |
| E904 | Shellac | Resin from the lac insect | Glazing agent on fruit, sweets and confectionery. Insects are impure for most scholars. |
| E920 | L-cysteine | Hair, feathers or synthetic | Flour treatment agent in commercial bread. Synthetic and microbial routes exist, so it is source-dependent. |
| E901 | Beeswax | Secretion of honey bees | Generally accepted — the source is not the impure part of the animal. |
| E626–E629 | Guanylate and inosinate salts | Meat or fish extract (or fermented) | Flavour enhancers in crisps, instant noodles, stocks. |
| E1518 | Glyceryl triacetate (triacetin) | Synthetic, but an acetate ester | Solvent and humectant; some Muslims avoid it on alcohol grounds. |
Mushbooh: how one E-number can be both
Mushbooh means doubtful, and it is the honest classification for a whole group of additives where the manufacturing route — not the substance — decides the answer. Emulsifiers made from fatty acids are the clearest case: the fats can come from soybean or palm oil, or from rendered animal fat, and the finished additive is chemically identical either way.
| Code | Substance | Halal route | Non-halal route |
|---|---|---|---|
| E471 | Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids | Vegetable oils (soy, palm, sunflower) | Animal fat, including pork |
| E472a–f | Esters of mono- and diglycerides | Plant-derived base | Animal-derived base; some esters use acetic or lactic acid |
| E422 | Glycerol / glycerin | Vegetable oils | Animal fat, including from non-halal slaughter |
| E570 | Fatty acids | Plant oils | Animal fat |
| E322 | Lecithins | Soy or sunflower lecithin (the common case) | Egg yolk lecithin — not itself impure, but relevant to some dietary rules |
| E631 / E627 | Disodium inosinate / guanylate | Fermentation or plant-based routes | Meat or fish extract |
Because the label cannot distinguish these routes, "mushbooh" is the correct answer from packaging alone. The only ways to resolve it are the manufacturer's written confirmation, a halal certificate covering the specific product, or choosing a certified alternative.
Reading a label when the E-number is not printed
Many products — especially outside the EU — name the substance instead of the code. Search the ingredient list for these terms:
| On the label | Equivalent code | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Gelatine / gelatin | E441 | Source is rarely declared; pork gelatin is common in sweets |
| Carmine, cochineal, carminic acid, Natural Red 4 | E120 | Insect-derived; avoid unless certified |
| Shellac, confectioner's glaze, resinous glaze | E904 | Insect resin; a coating, not an ingredient you can taste |
| L-cysteine, cysteine hydrochloride | E920 | Common in commercial bread; ask the baker for the source |
| Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, E471 | E471 | Emulsifier in almost every baked good and spread |
| Emulsifier (471), stabiliser (472e), humectant (422) | E471 / E472e / E422 | Parenthesised numbers are E-numbers without the letter |
| "Flavour enhancer (627, 631)" | E627 / E631 | Meat- or fish-derived unless stated otherwise |
How accurate can an E-number list be?
A general E-number list is a starting filter, not a verdict on the packet in your hand. It is accurate about the substance — carmine comes from insects, gelatin comes from animal collagen — but silent about the particular supplier a brand used this quarter. Three practical rules:
- • Treat a "halal" classification as meaning the additive has no known animal route, not that the finished product is certified.
- • Treat "mushbooh" as a prompt to ask the manufacturer in writing, not as a rejection.
- • When the same product is available with a recognised halal certificate, the certificate is the cheaper answer than a supply-chain investigation. Certifier registers you can search directly: MUIS (Singapore), HMC (UK) and BPJPH (Indonesia).
Quick reference: the common codes
✓ Plant, mineral or synthetic routes
- E100 — curcumin, from turmeric
- E160a — carotenes, plant pigments
- E300 — ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- E330 — citric acid, fermentation
- E440 — pectin, from fruit
- E460 — cellulose, plant fibre
- E901 — beeswax, generally accepted
✗ Animal-derived or otherwise avoided
- E120 — carmine, from insects
- E441 — gelatin, often pork
- E542 — bone phosphate
- E904 — shellac, insect resin
- E920 — L-cysteine, source-dependent
- E1518 — glyceryl triacetate, avoided by some
- E626–E629 — meat or fish extract, unless fermented
Related on this site: the packaged-food ingredient scanner covers whole ingredient lists rather than codes, the cosmetics checker applies the same logic to skincare and makeup, the medicine checker covers gelatin capsules and alcohol-based syrups, and the Is it halal? guide sets out the general decision rules. Eating out? Start with the halal restaurant finder.
Note on limits: the checker labels a substance, not a product. Manufacturers change suppliers without changing packaging, so verify the specific item before relying on any list — this one included. The European Commission additive database and EFSA assessments confirm what an additive is and how it is regulated; neither records its commercial source.
Sources: European Commission, food additives framework and additives database (food.ec.europa.eu); European Food Safety Authority, food additives topic page (efsa.europa.eu); Halal Monitoring Committee (halalhmc.org); MUIS halal directory (muis.gov.sg); BPJPH Indonesia (bpjph.halal.go.id). Derivation notes reflect standard commercial practice, not a specific manufacturer's sourcing.