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Editorial note: Market figures cited in this article are estimates based on publicly available industry reports and may vary by source. HalalExpo.com aims to present the most current data available but readers should verify figures for business decisions. Sources include the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report, DinarStandard, and national halal authority publications.
Carmine (E120) is haram. It is a red food dye derived from the dried, crushed bodies of female cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus). Insects (with the exception of locusts) are not permitted as food in Islamic law, and the cochineal insect has not been slaughtered. JAKIM, MUI, ESMA, IFANCA, and all major halal certification bodies classify carmine as haram. Muslim consumers must avoid products containing E120, carmine, cochineal extract, or carminic acid.
Carmine is one of the oldest natural red dyes in the world, derived from cochineal insects that live on prickly pear cactus plants in Mexico and Central America. The Spanish brought knowledge of the dye to Europe in the 16th century, where it replaced madder and kermes as the dominant red dye in the textile and food industry.
As a food additive, carmine is assigned multiple identifying codes and names:
Carmine produces a stable, bright red colour across a wide pH range and is resistant to heat and light — making it valuable in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
The production process for carmine involves insects at every stage:
Approximately 70,000 insects are required to produce 1 pound (450g) of carmine dye. Global carmine production is estimated at 200–300 tonnes per year.
The halal prohibition on carmine rests on two grounds:
Islamic jurisprudence generally prohibits the consumption of insects. The Quran (Al-Baqarah 2:173, Al-Maida 5:3) prohibits "al-khabaith" — impure, filthy things — which most scholars interpret as including insects. The exception traditionally granted by some scholars is locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) based on a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) permitting two types of blood (liver and spleen) and two types of animals that die without slaughter (fish and locusts).
The cochineal insect is not a locust. It does not fall within any scholarly exception to the insect prohibition.
Even if insects were potentially permissible (which mainstream scholarship does not accept for cochieal), the cochineal insects are killed by heat exposure, desiccation, or other methods — not through any form of halal slaughter (zabiha). Blood-producing creatures that die without halal slaughter are not permitted.
Both grounds independently lead to the same conclusion: carmine is haram.
JAKIM explicitly classifies carmine (E120) as haram. It is listed in JAKIM's official haram substance list. Any product seeking Malaysian halal certification must not contain E120, cochineal extract, carmine, or carminic acid in any form.
MUI fatwa explicitly prohibits carmine. MUI's halal food standard lists E120 as a prohibited colourant. The BPJPH mandatory certification framework inherited this prohibition — no product containing carmine may be certified halal in Indonesia.
The UAE's halal standard (GSO 2055-1) prohibits insect-derived ingredients, and ESMA explicitly prohibits carmine in halal-certified products. The Gulf halal standards across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman all follow the same position.
IFANCA classifies carmine and cochineal extract as haram. Their consumer guidance and ingredient guides list E120 as an ingredient to avoid. IFANCA-certified products must not contain carmine.
UK halal bodies agree: carmine is haram. HFA and HMC certification requires the absence of E120 in all forms.
Carmine can appear under many names. Muslim consumers should check for:
In the United States, FDA regulations require products to declare "cochineal extract" or "carmine" by name on food labels (not just E120), specifically because of consumer concerns (allergic reactions and religious/dietary objections). This makes US-label reading somewhat easier than EU labels, where E120 alone may be listed.
Several plant-based red and pink colourants provide comparable results to carmine:
Many food manufacturers have replaced carmine with betanin or anthocyanins, driven by demand from halal, kosher, and vegan consumers simultaneously. Starbucks, for example, removed carmine from its strawberry-flavoured products in 2012 following consumer campaigns. Some dairy and beverage brands have reformulated to betanin or anthocyanin blends.
No. E120 is carmine, derived from cochineal insects. It is classified as haram by JAKIM, MUI, ESMA, and IFANCA. It is prohibited in halal-certified products.
No. Carmine is from insects (cochineal), not pigs. However, it is still haram — insects are not a permitted food in Islamic law, and the cochineal is not slaughtered according to halal requirements.
No. Carmine is derived from crushed insects and is not vegan or vegetarian. Products labelled vegan or vegetarian do not contain carmine — this is a useful secondary check for Muslim consumers.
Carmine in cosmetics is a matter of scholarly discussion: most halal scholars hold that haram substances used externally (not ingested) carry a different ruling than food. However, lipstick is applied to the mouth and may be ingested in small amounts. The dominant conservative position prohibits carmine in lip products. Many halal cosmetic certifiers require carmine-free formulations.
"Cochineal" technically refers to the raw dried insect powder, while "carmine" is the purified, precipitated lake pigment. "Cochineal extract" is the water-soluble extract. All three are derived from the same insect and are all haram. The three terms are sometimes used interchangeably on food labels.
For a full reference on halal and haram food additives by E-number, see our Halal Certification for Food Ingredients & Additives guide. To find halal-certified food colouring suppliers, browse the HalalExpo Business Directory.
Ingredients
E476 (PGPR / Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate) is mashbooh — its halal status depends on whether the glycerol comes from plant or animal sources. The ricinoleic acid component (from castor beans) is always plant-sourced and halal. Most commercial PGPR today uses plant-derived glycerol. Cadbury, Mars, and Nestlé use halal-certified PGPR in their Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern chocolate products.
Ingredients
E492 (Sorbitan Tristearate / Span 65) is mashbooh — its halal status depends on the source of the stearic acid used in production. Sorbitol (the other key ingredient) is always plant-derived and halal. E492 is used mainly in chocolate coatings to prevent fat bloom. Halal-certified confectionery uses plant-sourced E492.
Ingredients
March 17, 2026 · 9 min
E481 (Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate / SSL) is mashbooh — its halal status depends on whether the stearic acid comes from plant oils or animal fats. SSL is widely used in bread, baked goods, and coffee whiteners. Most SSL in halal-certified products is made from vegetable (palm) stearic acid. Without certification, SSL should be treated as doubtful.