Halal Haram Blog By FMO

It’s important to verify the specific source and production process of all the ingredients mentioned in the product to ensure compliance with “Halal” guidelines, if it is not then it will be declared as “Haram”.

What is an E-code?

E-code, also known as European food additive code, is a system used in the European Union (EU) to classify food additives. Each additive is assigned a unique E-number, allowing for standardized labeling on packaged food products.

What are Food Additives?

Food additives are substances added to food products to improve their flavor, texture, appearance, or shelf life. They can include preservatives, colorants, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and more.

What are INS numbers?

INS numbers, or International Numbering System for Food Additives, are used globally to identify food additives. They are assigned by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, allowing for international standardization in food labeling.

What are Food Formulas?

Food formulas refer to the specific compositions of ingredients used in packaged food products. These formulas are carefully developed to achieve desired taste, texture, nutritional content, and preservation.

What are food chemicals?

Food chemicals encompass various substances used in food production, including natural compounds and synthetic additives. They serve different purposes such as enhancing flavor, preserving freshness, or improving texture.

Halal Product:

Alhamdulillah, Being a practicing Muslim we are obligated to eat Halal products with a Halal income. Whereas Halal products are only Halal if the product is from the vegetable and fruits sources especially non-alcoholic ingredients, and if the meat or fat is used in any product must be through a zabiha and only allowed halal animal sources as per the sharia law. 

Doubtful Product:

Unknowingly we might eat the Haram products without knowing it’s ingredients sources and the status of the product. May Allah save us from eating forbidden and haram items, however there are many products which doesn’t verify about the ingredients  used is from the zabiha halal animal source or vegetable source. They use E-Codes and INS codes for confusing. Hence it is recommended to not consume any product without verifying it’s sources.

Haram Product:

Any product which has confirmed about it’s sources are from haram procedures or the ingredients used are from the forbidden sources such as Alcohol, Non-Zabiha Animal Extracts, Ingredients or Emulsifiers from haram sources or procedures then it would be forbidden to be consumed for any Muslim.

Note: Currently we are rarely declaring any product as “Haram” due to lack of volunteers, sources, incomplete information printed on each product, as manufacturer doesn’t provide the actual source of E-Codes, We are tirelessly working and making efforts towards enhancing our software so we can declare the products as “Halal” and “Haram”. Please support our cause by joining as a Volunteer, Or you can become a sponsor to support the cause.

As we use FMO Halal Haram Software to verify the product statuses. Most of the packaged food items has food additives which are named and formulated chemical emulsifier numbers, it is E-Code Or INS. Based on our ongoing research which started in 2022, we have collected the data of food additives and ecode information through authentic sources which are acknowledged by Food Scientists, Islamic Sharia Councils by many Islamic Countries, describing the food additives, Ecodes, and INS numbers. We will mention the sources URLs and links in later toggle.

We follow below steps to declare the product as Halal, Doubtful & Haram:

• We check the product listing on authentic sources and channels whether if the Islamic scholars had labelled it as “Halal” Or “Haram”. If they had declared it “Halal” Or “Haram” on any channel through authentic verification, then we directly declare its status based on the scholar’s research.
• If we do not find the product status such as “Halal” Or “Haram”, then we check the product details and it’s ingredients mentioned on the packaging, to make sure no haram ingredient is mentioned in the list.
• Once after verifying we add all the ecodes and ins numbers into our software to check the status of it.
• Once the software completes it review, we publish the product and it automatically makes the decision and declare the product status as “Halal” & “Doubtful”, as per our beta version our software is currently supported only for “Halal & Doubtful” products, therefore haram products are added manually based on the authentic report of the entire research.
• If the product is published as “Doubtful”, then we check why the product is lying under the category. Based on the audit of our software we note all the possible reasons of the doubtful product and E-mail the official manufacturer all its concern.
• If the manufacturer replies and clear the doubt of the product ingredients, we declare the product as “Halal” & “Haram” based on the details provided by manufacturer.  

Food additives are used in packaged food products to improve their quality, safety, and shelf life. They help maintain freshness, enhance flavor and appearance, prevent spoilage, and ensure consistency in texture and appearance.

Commonly used food additives in packaged food products include:

• E322 (Lecithin): Lecithin is an emulsifier used to improve texture and stability in food products. It may be derived from soybeans or animal fat. Soybean-derived lecithin is halal, while animal fat-derived lecithin is haram. Therefore, the halal or haram status of a product containing E322 depends on the source of the lecithin used.

• E471 (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids): These compounds are emulsifiers used to improve texture in food products. They can be derived from various sources, including palm oil, soybean oil, or animal fats. If derived from plant-based sources like palm oil or soybean oil, E471 is halal. However, if derived from animal fats, it would be considered haram.

• E160a (Carotenes): Carotenes are natural pigments responsible for the orange color of carrots and other fruits and vegetables. They are used as colorants in food products. Carotenes are halal as they are derived from plant sources.

• E202 (Potassium Sorbate): Potassium sorbate is a preservative used to inhibit the growth of mold and yeast in food products. It is synthetic and typically produced from sorbic acid. Potassium sorbate is halal as it is derived from synthetic sources.

• E621 (Monosodium Glutamate): Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer used to improve the taste of food products. It is typically produced through fermentation of carbohydrates. MSG is halal as it is derived from plant-based sources.

• E631 (Disodium Inosinate):

  • Disodium inosinate is a flavor enhancer frequently used in packaged food products.
  • It is typically produced from either animal sources or microbial fermentation of sugars.
  • Disodium inosinate derived from microbial fermentation is halal, while that from animal sources is haram.
  • Hence, a product using disodium inosinate derived from microbial fermentation would be halal, but if it’s from animal sources, it would be haram.

  E120 (Cochineal, Carminic Acid):

  • Cochineal, also known as carminic acid, is a red colorant used in food and beverage products.
  • It is derived from the crushed bodies of female cochineal insects.
  • Due to its source from insects, cochineal-derived carminic acid is considered haram.
  • Therefore, products containing carminic acid would be haram for consumption.

  E904 (Shellac):

  • Shellac is a glazing agent commonly used to provide a glossy appearance to food products.
  • It is derived from the secretions of the lac insect.
  • Because it is sourced from insects, shellac is considered haram.
  • Hence, products containing shellac would be haram for consumption.

  E441 (Gelatine):

  • Gelatine is a gelling agent derived from animal collagen, typically obtained from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals.
  • It is used in a wide range of food products, including desserts, candies, and marshmallows.
  • Gelatine sourced from animals not slaughtered according to Islamic dietary laws is considered haram.
  • Therefore, products containing gelatine sourced from halal-slaughtered animals would be halal, while those from non-halal sources would be haram.
   

We do not take any information from single source, we try our best to take information from multiple sources after verifying from it’s authenticity from the verified Islamic Councils Or Food Scientists. 

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The halal or haram status of food additives depends on their source and production process. Additives derived from halal sources and produced using halal methods are generally considered halal. Conversely, those derived from haram sources or produced using haram methods may be considered haram.

We are adhere to dietary laws that require consuming halal (permissible) foods and avoiding haram (prohibited) ones. Considering the halal status of food additives ensures compliance with these dietary laws and religious beliefs.