Processed foods contain food additives, regulated by the alphabet ‘E’, such as emulsifiers, raising agents, preservatives, colouring and gelling agents. At time of compilation, all other ‘E’ number additives are halal except for these:
‘E’ Number
Description
E120
Cochineal - derived from the cochineal beetle
E160a
Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma- Carotene – haram if gelatine is added to it
E471
Mono and Di-Glycerides of fatty acids – when Glycerol is used, one has to find out the source whether animal or synthetic
E472 (a-e)
Lactic acid esters of Mono- and D-Glycerides of fatty acids, prepared from esters of Glycerol
E473
Sucrose esters of fatty acids prepared from Glycerol and Sucrose
E474
Sycroglycerides prepared by reaction of Sucrose on natural Triglycerides, derived from palm oil, lard, etc
E475
Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, prepared in the labrotary
E476
Polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids of castor oil, prepared from castor oil and Glycerol esters
E477
Propylene Glycol of fatty acids
E478
Prepared from esters of glycerol and lactic acid
E570
Stearic Acid, naturally occurring fatty acid found in animal fats and vegetable oils, used as anticaking agent
E572
Prepared synthetically from commercial stearic acid
E631
Prepared from insect, meat and fish extract
E635
Same source as E631
E640
-
E920
Naturally occurring amino acid manufactured from animal hair and chicken feathers
