Food Additives - E Numbers

Food Additives

E Numbers are a specific numbering system to identify food additives used in food industry. These E Numbers are not formulated based on Sources of Food additives. Same E Number is assigned to a food additive derived from a Halal source or Haraam source. Halal status of a food additive cannot be decided based only on the E Number. It would be difficult for the common person to distinguish what is Halal. Therefore, there is a need for a stringent screening of the raw materials used for respective status

The E numbers are categorized as follows:
  • E 100 – E 199 (Colours)
  • E 200 – E 299 (Preservatives)
  • E 300 – E 399 (Antioxidants, Acidity Regulators)
  • E 400 – E 499 (Thickeners, Stabilizers, Emulsifiers)
  • E 500 – E 599 (Acidity Regulators, Anti-Caking Agents)
  • E 600 – E 699 (Flavour Enhancers)
  • E 900 – E 999 (Surface Coating Agents, Gases, Sweeteners)
  • E 1000 – E 1999 (Additional Chemicals)
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Only ingredients classified as additives have an E Code Number. Naturally occurring ingredients do not eg: Gelatine, sugar, whey etc.

Serial #Food AdditiveFunctionsIslamic Status
1 Acetic acid 260 Acidulent, preservative, flavouring agent Halal
2 Adipic acid 355 Acidulent, flavouring agent Halal
3 Agar 406 Gelling agent Halal
4 Albumin Protein fortifier, binder Questionable (1)
5 Algin 400 Thickening, binding & gelling agent Halal
6 Annatto 160B Color Halal
7 Artificial colour/flavour Many types Adds colour and/or flavour Many Numbers Questionable (1) (2)
8 Ascorbic acid 300 Vitamin C, dough conditioner, antioxidant Halal
9 Aspartame 951 Sweetener Halal
10 Benzoic acid 210 Preservative Halal
11 Beta carotene 160 Colorant, Vitamin A Halal
12 BHA Butylated Hydroxyanisole 320 Antioxidant Halal
13 BHT Butylated Hydroxytoluene 321 Antioxidant Halal
14 Caffeine Beverage additive Halal
15 Calcium caseinate Protein fortifier, binding agent, whipping agent Halal
16 Calcium propionate 282 Preservative, mold inhibitor Halal
17 Calcium silicate 552 Anti-caking agent Halal
18 Calcium stearoyl lactylate 482 Whipping agent, dough conditioner, emulsifier Questionable (1)
19 Calcium sulfate 516 Calcium source, filler, firming agent Halal
20 Caramel 150 Colorant Halal
21 Carrageenan 407 Stabiliser, gelling agent Halal
22 Citric acid 330 Acidulent, antioxidant Halal
23 Cornstarch Thickener Halal
24 Dextrin 1400 Adhesive, flavour carrier Halal
25 Diammonium phosphate Leavening agent Halal
26 Dipotassium phosphate Emulsifier, buffering agent Halal
27 Disodium guanylate/627 Inosinate 631 Flavour enhancers Halal
28 EDTA Sequestrant Halal
29 Enzymes Active additives Questionable (4)
30 Erythorbic acid 315 Preservative Halal
31 Ethyl alcohol Extracting agent Haram
32 Ferric orthophosphate Food supplement Halal
33 Ferrous fumarate Food supplement Halal
34 Ferrous gluconate 579 Food supplement Halal
35 Fumaric acid 297 Acidulent Halal
36 Gelatin Gelling agent Questionable (3)
37 Glutamic acid Flavour enhancer Questionable (1)
38 Glycerin 422 Humectant, crystallisation modifier, plasticiser Questionable (1)
39 Glyceryl monolaurate 445 Emulsifier Questionable (1)
40 Glycine 640 Dietary supplement, rancidity retardant Questionable (1)
41 Guar gum 41 Stabiliser, thickening agent Halal
42 Gum base many types Gum Questionable (1)
43 Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) Flavour enhancer Halal
44 Isopropyl citrate Antioxidant Halal
45 Lactic acid 270 Adjusts acidity, flavouring agent, preservative Halal
46 Lactylated fatty acid esters 472 Emulsifiers Questionable (1)
47 Lard Hog/ Pig fat Haram
48 Lecithin (soy) 322 Emulsifier, dough stabiliser, anti-sticking agent, viscosity reducer, wetting agent Halal
49 Magnesium stearate Lubricant, binder, emulsifier, anticaking agent Questionable (1)
50 Maltodextrin 965 Texturizer, crystallisation inhibitor, bulking agent Halal
51 Methylcellulose 465 Thickener Halal
52 Methylsalicylate Flavouring agent Halal
53 Monoglyceride and Diglyceride 471 Emulsifiers, dough conditioners, texture improvers Questionable (1)
54 Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) 621 Flavour enhancer Halal
55 Oleoresins Oil Resins Color and flavour additives/td> Questionable (1)
56 Oxystearin Crystallisation inhibitor, release agent Questionable (1)
57 Pectin 440 Gelling agent Halal
58 Phosphoric acid 338 Acidulent Halal
59 Polysorbates 433,435,436 Emulsifiers Questionable (1)
60 Potassium citrate 332 Sequestrant and buffering agent Halal
61 Potassium sorbate Preservative Halal
62 Potassium stearate Binder, emulsifier, plasticiser in chewing gum base Questionable (1)
63 Propyl gallate 310 Antioxidant Halal
64 Propylene glycol 1520 Humectant, solvent Halal
65 Propylene glycol alginate 405 Thickener, stabiliser, emulsifier Halal
66 Propylene glycol monostearate 477 Dispersing aid, crystal stabiliser, aeration increaser Questionable (1)
67 Rennet Milk coagulant used primarily in cheese Questionable (4)
68 Saccharine Sweetener Halal
69 Shortening Animal or vegetable fats or oils Questionable (1)
70 Silicon dioxide 551 Anticaking Halal
71 Sodium acid pyrophosphate Leavening agent, preservative, sequestrant Halal
72 Sodium alginate 401 Thickener, binder, gelling agent Halal
73 Sodium ascorbate 301 Antioxidant, nutrient Halal
74 Sodium benzoate 211 Preservative Halal
75 Sodium bicarbonate 500 Leavening agent Halal
76 Sodium caseinate Protein fortifier, emulsifier, binding agent, whipping agent Halal
77 Sodium citrate 331 Sequestrant Halal
78 Sodium erythorbate 316 Antioxidant Halal
79 Sodium hexametaphos-phate 339 Binding agent Halal
80 Sodium lauryl sulfate 481 Whipping agent, emulsifier Questionable (1)
81 Sodium nitrate 251 Antimicrobial agent, preservative Halal
82 Sodium nitrite 250 Antimicrobial agent, preservative Halal
83 Sodium propionate 281 Preservative Halal
84 odium silico aluminate 554 Anticaking and conditioning agent Halal
85 Sodium stearate 481 Binder, emulsifier, anticaking agent Questionable (1)
86 Sodium sulfite 221 Preservative Halal
87 Sorbitan monostearate 491 Emulsifier, surfactant, dispersant Questionable (1)
88 Sorbitol 420 Humectant Halal
89 Stannous chloride 512 Antioxidant, preservative Halal
90 Stearic acid 570 Lubricant, binder, defoamer Questionable (1)
91 Stearoyl lactylate Dough conditioner, emulsifier, whipping agent Questionable (1)
92 Sulfur dioxide 220 Preservative, anti-microbial Halal
93 Tallow Animal fat Questionable (1)
94 Tartaric acid 334 Flavour enhancer, acidulent Halal
95 Titanium dioxide 171 Colouring agent Halal
96 Vanilla Flavourant Questionable (2)
97 Vanillin Flavourant Questionable (2)
98 Vinegar Acidulent, flavourant Halal
99 Whey Source of lactose, milk solids, whey proteins Questionable (4)
100 Yeast Leavening and fermenting agent Halal
101 Zein Coating agent Halal

  1. Source may be derived from, or contain ingredients of, animal origin.
  2. May contain ethyl alcohol which is haram.
  3. May be derived from pork. If gelatin is from fish or halal-slaughtered animals, it is halal.
  4. ​Rennet and other enzymes may come from non-halal slaughtered animals. Whey, a cheese by-product, may be derived from milk curdled with questionable rennet or enzymes.
Allah ( SWT) knows best.
Source: IFANCA HALAL STANDARD