Halaal Food E Codes

May allah reward all those who take the efforts to guide this ummah to the straight path and give hidayath to all those who try to misguide this ummah! Aameen.

I would be pleased to list all the E codes mentioned in the forwarded email with it's explanation and halal/HARAM status:

E 100 = Turmeric.
Also known as Curcumin. Manjhal in malayalam. Turmeric, a representative of plant genus Curcuma, is a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae hence halal.

E110 = Sunset Yellow FCF.
This is a complete synthetic chemical formula sourced from coal tar and azo yellow dye. There is no relation proved to animal sources hence halal.

E 120 = Cochineal
This is red colour taken from crushed insects. HARAM.

E 140 = Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins
This colour dye is taken from Spinach, nettles and grass. 100% plants and vegetable source hence halal.

E 141 = Chlorophylls and Chlorophyllins; Derivative.
This colour dye is a derived from the above ingredient hence halal.

E 153 = Vegetable carbon, Carbon black
This is derived from burnt vegetable matter hence halal.
It is sad to note that the very famous animal ingredient E 152 (mushbooh, according to the animal source) is not even listed in the forwarded email.

E 210 = Benzoic acid
This is 100% synthetic chemical with no animal sources. It is produced with the oxedation from oxygen, benzoin and petroleum derivatives. Hence, halal.

E 214 = Ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate
This a derivative of Benzoic acid, above ingredient. hence halal.

E 216 = Propyl para-hydroxybenzoate
This a derivative of Benzoic acid, above ingredient. hence halal.

E 234 = Nisin
This is a natural antimicrobial agent, derived from controlled fermentation of the naturally occurring bacteria Streptococcus lactis, found in milk. Organic laws of the world allows milk from domestic dairy animals (PIG is non dairy animal) only. Hence, halal.

E 252 = Potassium nitrate
This is taken from waste animal or vegetable matter. Only the producer would be able to disclose the source. Hence it depends on the source to be halal or HARAM.

E 270 = Lactic Acid
This is commercially produced by bacterial fermentation on starch and molasses. Also produced in large amounts in the large intestine by the resident bacteria. Although it can be produced synthetically, Animals are the common source for this ingredient and hence better avoided. Depending on the source, it can be halal or HARAM.

E 280 = Propionic acid
This is derived from ethylene and carbon monoxide or propionaldehyde, natural gas or fermented wood pulp. Hence halal.

E 325 = Sodium Lactate
This the sodium salt of Lactic acid (E 270). The same ruling applies here. Better avoided.

E 326 = Potassium Lactate
Same as above. Better avoided.

E 327 = Calcium Lactate
Same as above. Better avoided.

E 334 = Tartaric Acid.
This is a  natural, widely occurring, plant acid. Hence halal.

E 335 = Sodium Tartrate
Same as above. Hence halal.

E 336 = Potassium Tartrate
Same as above. Hence halal.

E 337 = Sodium Potassium Tartrate
Same as above. Hence halal.

Now, a common solution described by Halal experts are to avoid using products which contains ingredients above E 430 upto E 500. This is a general ruling. But there are exemptions. (Some are halal).
The list forwwarded has many E 400 numbers. I will only list those which are halal.

E 422 = Glycerol
This is produced either synthetically from propene, or by bacterial fermentation of sugars; it is not produced from fat. Glycerol doesnt contain alcohol either hence halal.

E 440 = Pectins
This is found in ripe fruits such as apples and plums but mainly prepared from citrus peel, traditionally lemons, limes and grapefruit. Hence halal.

E 476 = Polyglycerol polyricinoleate
This is produced from castor oil and glycerol esters (see E422). hence halal.

Rest of the numbers listed in the email from E 430 and above are all either Mushbooh or HARAM.

E 542 = Bone phosphate
This is derivated from animal bones hence HARAM.

E 570 = Stearic acid
This is normally prepared fro cotton seed oil etc.. but Animal source cannot be excluded. Hence depended on it's source it will be halal or HARAM.

E 572 = Magnesium Stearate
Same as above. Better avoided.

E 631 = Sodium Inosinate
This is taken from Animals and fishes. If taken from fishes, halal. Else, HARAM. Better avoided.

E 635 = Sodium5-Ribonucleotide
Same as above. Better avoided.

E 904 = Shellac
This taken from lice. HARAM.

This completes all the E codes mentioned in your forwarded email. But, there are more HARAM e numbers which has to be brought into attention. I would suggest you to take a look at the HALAL E codes listed at Ask Imam website etc.. for better and correct information.
Please dont forward hoax emails like this to others so that Allah wont make us amongst those who misguide this ummah.

Wassalam,
Mouvli Zakariya bin Yahya.
[in his reply to e-codes forwarded to him. he has done research on the items (E codes) mentioned in the email.
Some of the items mentioned in the haram list appears to be wrong. Some of them are pure vegetarian spices, salt etc.. which has no connection to any animal. Following was the list in the forwarded message which claimed to have PIG FAT. E100, E110, E120, E 140, E141, E153, E2l0, E213, E214, E216, E234, E252,E270, E280, E325, E326, E327, E334, E335, E336, E337, E422, E430, E431, E432, E433, E434, E435, E436, E440, E470, E472, E473, E474, E475,E476, E477, E478, E481, E482, E483, E491, E492, E493, E494, E495, E542,E570, ES 72, E631, E635, E904.]

Also See a detailed Fatwa