Gelatine is collagen extracted from skin and bone. It is in sweets, marshmallows, yoghurts, capsules, some fruit juices as a clarifier, and many low-fat desserts. A label that says only 'gelatine' has not told you the one thing that decides the question.
E-codes that depend on their source
| Code | Name | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| E441 | Gelatine | Animal collagen; source not stated on the label |
| E471 | Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids | May be plant or animal fat |
| E472a-f | Esters of mono- and diglycerides | Same question as E471 |
| E120 | Cochineal, carmine | Made from an insect; contested among scholars |
| E542 | Bone phosphate | Animal bone by definition |
| E904 | Shellac | Insect resin; contested |
| E920 | L-cysteine | May be derived from feathers or hair |
| E631 | Disodium inosinate | Often from meat or fish |
The codes above are the ones worth memorising because they are common and genuinely ambiguous. Most other E-numbers are minerals or plant derivatives and raise no question at all.
Alcohol in the ingredients list
Ethanol as a drink is unambiguously forbidden. Trace ethanol used as a solvent in flavourings is treated differently by different scholars, with many holding that a quantity too small to intoxicate and chemically transformed in processing does not render the product forbidden. 'Natural flavouring' can conceal it, which is why the phrase appears on so many doubtful lists.
A label check that takes ten seconds
- Look for a recognised halal certification mark first. If there is one, the rest of the check is unnecessary.
- Scan for the words gelatine, rennet, lard, tallow, carmine, shellac and L-cysteine.
- Scan for the E-codes in the table above.
- Check for alcohol, wine, or 'natural flavouring' in anything sweet or processed.
- If a doubtful ingredient is present and unqualified, treat the product as mashbooh and either pick another or ask the manufacturer.
Rumi's scanner does this reading for you from a photograph of the label, names what it found and why it matters, and attaches a confidence level. It is a first check rather than a certification: labels change, formulations differ by country, and only the manufacturer or a certifier can answer with authority.