Is Carmine Halal E120?
Edited By Staff Writer, Halal Incorp
Now don’t know about you but I for one use to love munching on sweets and chocolate candy as a youth. One of the aspects that we didn’t know about in those days was the ingredients which were used in the sweets and chocolate.
Not being aware and not having the knowledge particularly living in the West where Halal wasn’t widely labelled at that time we may have consumed sweets and candy which had Haram colouring in them.
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Carmine, also dubbed as cochineal or E120, is a red food colooring made from crushed cochineal insects. It is widely used in cosmetics, beverages, yogurts, as well as confectionery for its vibrant red hue.
However, for people like us following Islamic dietary principles, the question arises: is carmine Halal?
Islamic dietary guidelines require food & drink to be free from Haram (forbidden) substances. Carmine is controversial because it is insect-derived, & the insects are generally considered impure (najis) in Islamic jurisprudence and faith.
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According to many theologians & religious scholars, eating products made from insects is not allowed unless there is a specific exemption or necessity, for example life and death situation.
Most predominant Islamic entities view carmine as being Haram due to its origin. The thought process around this is that insects are not among the animals allowed for consumption in the Islamic faith & the process of crushing them to extract dye is seen as impure and unethical from a Halal frame of view.
Is Carmine Halal E120?
However, some smaller number of scholarly opinions debate that carmine may be considered Halal under specific conditions, particularly if it undergoes a transformation (istihalah) during the processing that changes its original nature.
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This view however is not widely accepted but is sometimes mentioned in industries seeking to use the ingredient in Halal-certified goods.
For those who adhere to the Islamic faith who wish to avoid any doubt (ihtiyat), it is recommended to choose products sign posted as Halal-certified & free from E120.
There are some plant-based alternatives, such as beetroot or synthetic dyes, which are often used in Halal-certified items to replace carmine.
Therefore, carmine is typically thought of as not Halal & Muslims are advised to check ingredient labels very attentively.
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