E-codes as reference

Consumers in general are unaware of the E codes and what it represents. E means European communities and the standards of E codes are widely accepted in the food and beverage industries. Cautious and careful inspection by Muslim consumers can make a difference in our purchasing power. Hence, collective persuasion and high demand can establish an international recognition of halal status and halal compliance.

Below is a chart in general how these codes are categorized.

E codes	Description
E 100-180	Colours
E 200-252	Preservatives
E260-297	Acidities
E300-385	Antioxidant
E 400-429	Thickeners
E430-499	Emulsifiers
E620-640	Flavour enhancer
E 950-967	Sweeteners

Some of the raw materials, processing, sanitation, and packaging might affect halal status regardless of the halal certification. Therefore consumers have to be constantly aware and informed of the ingredients, processing, packaging and etc that might affect the requirements of our dietary requirements.

E Codes	Name	Description
E160B	Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin	Colour
E160C	Capsanthin/Capsorbin	Colour
E160D	Lycopene	Colour
E160E	Beta-apo-8-carotenal	Colour
E160F	Ethyl ester of Beta-apo-8-cartonoic acid	Colour
E161A	Flavoxanthin	Colour
E161B	Lutein	Colour
E161C	Cryptoxanthin	Colour
E161D	Rubixanthin	Colour
E161E	Violaxanthin	Colour
E161F	Rhodoxanthin	Colour
E161G	Canthaxanthin	Colour
E162	Beetroot Red / Betanin	Colour
E163	Anthocyanins	Colour
E170	Calcium Carbonate (Chalk)	Chemical
E171	Titanium Dioxide	Colour
E172	Iron Oxides and Iron Hydroxides	Metal
E173	Alluminium	Metal
E174	Silver	Metal
E175	Gold	Metal
E 180	Lithol Rubine BK/ Rubine Pigment	Colour
E200	Sorbic Acid	Chemical Preservatives
E201	Sodium Sorbate	Chemical Preservatives
E202	Potassium Sorbate	Chemical Preservatives
E203	Calcium Sorbate	Chemical Preservatives
E210	Benzoic Acid	Chemical Preservatives
E211	Sodium Benzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E212	Potassium Benzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E213	Calcium Benzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E214	Ethyl 4- Hydroxybenzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E215	Ethyl 4- Hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Salt	Chemical Preservatives
E216	Propyl 4- Hydroxybenzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E217	Propyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate, Sodium Salt	Chemical Preservatives
E218	Methyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E219	Methyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate	Chemical Preservatives
E220	Sulphur Dioxide	Chemical Preservatives
E221	Sodium Sulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E222	Sodium Hydrogen Sulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E223	Sodium Metabisulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E224	Potassium Metabisulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E226	Calcium Sulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E227	Calcium Hydrogen Sulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E228	Potassium Hydrogen Sulphite	Chemical Preservatives
E230	Biphenyl/Diphenyl	Fungicide
E231	2-Hydroxybiphenyl	Preservatives
E232	Sodium Biphenyl-2-yl-Oxide	Preservatives
E233	2-thiazol-4-yl Benzimidazole	Preservatives
E234	Nisin	Preservatives
E239	Hexamine	Preservatives
E249	Potassium Nitrate	Chemical Preservatives
E250	Sodium Nitrite	Chemical Preservatives
E251	Sodium Nitrate	Chemical Preservatives
E252	Potassium Nitrate (Saltpetre)	Chemical Preservatives
E260	Acetic Acid	Acids
E261	Potassium Acetate	Acids
E262	Sodium Acetates	Acid Regulator
E263	Calcium Acetate	Acids
E270	Lactic acid	Acids
E280	Propionic Acid	Acids
E281	Sodium Propionate	Acids
E282	Calcium Propionate	Acids
E283	Potassium Propionate	Acids
E284	Boric Acid	Preservatives
E290	Carbon Dioxide
E296	Malic Acid	Acid and Salt
E297	Fumaric Acid	Acid and Salt
E300	L-Ascorbic Acid	Antioxidant
E301	Sodium-L-Ascorbate	Antioxidant
E302	Calcium-L-Ascorbate	Antioxidant
E304	Ascorbyl Palmitate	Antioxidant
E306	Vitamin E	Antioxidant-Vitamin E
E307	Synthetic Alpha-Tocopherol	Antioxidants- Vitamin E
E308	Synthetic Gamma-Tocopherol	Antioxidants- Vitamin E
E309	Synthetic Delta-Tocopherol	Antioxidants- Vitamin E
E310	Propyl Gallate	Antioxidants and synthetic preservative
E311	Octyl Gallate	Antioxidants
E312	Dodecyl Gallate	Antioxidants
E315	Erythorbic acid	Antioxidant
E320	Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)	Antioxidants- Preservative
E321	Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)	Antioxidants- Preservative
E322	Lecithin	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers
E325	Sodium Lactate	Salts of Lactic Acid.
E326	Potassium Lactate	Salts of Lactic Acid
E327	Calcium Lactate	Salts of Lactic Acid
E330	Citric Acid	Citric Acid and its Salts
E331	Sodium Citrates	Citric Acid and its Salts
E332	Potassium Citrates	Citric Acid and its Salts
E333	Calcium Citrates	Citric Acid and its Salts
		Tartaric Acid and its Salts
E334	Tartaric Acid
E335	Sodium Tartrates
E336	Potassium Tartrates (Cream of Tartar)	Tartaric Acid and its Salts
E337	Potassium Sodium Tartrates	Tartaric Acid and its Salts
E338	Orthophosphoric Acid	Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
E339	Sodium Phosphates	Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
E340	Potassium Phosphates	Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
E341	Calcium Phosphates	Phosphoric Acid and its Salts
E350	Sodium Malate	Salts of Malic Acid
E351	Potassium Malate	Salts of Malic Acid
E352	Calcium Malate	Salts of Malic Acid
E353	Metataric Acid	Salts of Malic Acid
E355	Adipic Acid	Salts of Malic Acid
E363	Succinic Acid	Salts of Malic Acid
E370	1,4-Heptonolactane	Salts of Malic Acid
E375	Nicotinic Acid	Salts of Malic Acid
E380	Triammonium Citrate	Salts of Malic Acid
E381	Ammonium Ferric Citrate	Salts of Malic Acid
E385	Calcium Disodium EDTA	Salts of Malic Acid
E400	Alginic Acid	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers – Alginates
E401	Sodium Alginate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers – Alginates
E402	Potassium Alginate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers – Alginates
E403	Ammonium Alginate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers – Alginates
E404	Calcium Alginate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers – Alginates
E405	Propane-1,2-Diol Alginate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers – Alginates
E406	Agar	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E407	Carrageenan	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E410	Locust Bean Gum (Carob Gum)	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E412	Guar Gum	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E413	Tragacanth	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E414	Gum Acacia (Gum Arabic)	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E415	Xanthan Gum	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - other plant gums
E420	Sorbitol	Sugar Alcohols
E421	Mannitol	Sugar Alcohols
E422	Glycerol	Fat and Oil
E425	Konjac	A gum.
E430	Polyoxyethane (8) Stearate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E431	Polyoxyethane (40) Stearate	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E432	Polyoxyethane (20) Sorbitan / Polysorbate 20	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E433	Polyoxyethane (20) Sorbitan Mono-oleate / Polysorbate 80	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E434	Polyoxyethane (20) Sorbitan Monopalmitate / Polysorbate 40	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E435	Polyoxyethane (20) Sorbitan Monostearate / Polysorbate 60	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E436	Polyoxyethane (20) Sorbitan Tristearate / Polysorbate 65	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Fatty Acid derivatives
E440a	Pectin	Emulsifier and Stabilizer - Pectin and derivatives
E440b	Amidated Pectin	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Pectin and derivatives
E441	Gelatin	Gelatin
E450a,b,c	Sodium and Potassium Phosphates and Polyphosphates
E460	Microcrystalline / Powdered Cellulose	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Cellulose and derivatives
E461	Methylcellulose	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Cellulose and derivatives
E463	Hydroxypropylcellulose	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Cellulose and derivatives
E464	Hydroxypropyl-Methylcellulose	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Cellulose and derivatives
E465	Ethylmethylcellulose	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Cellulose and derivatives
E466	Carboxymethylcellulose, Sodium Salt	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - Cellulose and derivatives
E470	Sodium, Potassium and Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
E471	Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids. Fat and Oil
E472	Various Esters of Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids
E472e	Monoand diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono & diglycerides
E473	Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids.
E474	Sucroglycerides	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
E475	Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids
E476	Polyglycerol Esters of Polycondensed Esters of Caster Oil	Emulsifiers and Stabilizers - salts or Esters of Fatty Acids

In a nutshell, if raw materials are from plant source it is then presumed Halal and if it derives from pork or unslaughtered animals according to syariah requirements it is deemed as HARAM. Our appeal to consumers to take note and keep constant watch of the halal status of the E-codes as it varies based on different countries and sources.

“You are forbidden to eat that which dies of itself (flesh of unslaughtered animals), blood (which is flowing) and the flesh of swine (including all), also any flesh dedicated to any other than Allah and those killed by strangling and those beaten or gored to death, and those killed by a fall, and those mangled by beasts of prey, unless (you find it still alive) and slaughter it, and those sacrificed to idols and you are also forbidden) to seek division by arrows. That is a vicious practice. The unbelievers have this day despaired of making you forsake your religion (after they see the development of Islam and its Ummah). So have no fear of them but fear me. This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed my favor to you and I have chosen Islam to be your faith. He that is constrained by hunger (to eat of what is forbidden) not intending to commit sin (then he may eat it), for Allah is most forgiving, most merciful”. (Al Maidah: 5:3)

They ask you (O Muhammad): “What (food) is lawful to them?” To answer that, say: The good things are lawful to you (as food) as well as that which you have taught the animals of prey to catch, teaching them (to hunt animals) of what Allah has taught you. Eat of what they catch for you and pronounce Allah’s name upon it (when you send it off for hunting) and remain conscious of Allah (by abstaining from food forbidden by Him). Swift is Allah’s reckoning. (Al Maidah: 5:4)