E471, carmine, pectin, gelatine: an ingredients list can quickly look like technical jargon. It helps to separate three questions: which substance does the name refer to? Where does it come from? And what does that mean for your choice? A number does not automatically answer all three.
What does an E number tell you?
E numbers identify food additives. These substances perform different functions, for example as colourings, emulsifiers or gelling agents. The number does not automatically mean ‘animal-derived’ or ‘artificial’: vitamin C is also known as E300, and pectin as E440. Both occur naturally in foods. The European Food Safety Authority, EFSA, explains this classification.
Approval under food law is not halal or vegan certification. The source of the raw materials and the production process may also matter for those questions.
What is E440?
E440 refers to pectin (E440i) and amidated pectin (E440ii). Pectin is obtained from plant materials, mainly citrus peel and apple pomace. It is used as a gelling agent, among other functions. The EFSA assessment of pectin explains its origin and production.
Is the gelling agent pectin halal?
Pectin is a gelling agent of plant origin, rather than animal gelatine. However, ‘pectin’ alone is not evidence that the whole sweet is halal: the other ingredients and production process also matter. Check the label and documentation for the specific product. Our guide to the difference between halal and vegan explains more.
What is E471?
E471 stands for mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids. Behind this long name is an additive used, among other things, as an emulsifier. The EFSA assessment of E471 describes its composition and production from fats or oils.
‘E471’ identifies the substance, but not a particular supplier or a specific source of raw materials. You should therefore not conclude from the number alone that it is ‘definitely vegan’ or ‘definitely not halal’. Documented plant origin is additional information about the particular ingredient, not something you can tell from its number.
Carmine E120 and shellac E904
For some substances, the general origin is more precisely known. Carmine, or carminic acid, E120, is a colouring derived from cochineal insects. The EFSA gives it as an example of an additive of animal origin.
Shellac, E904, comes from a resin-like secretion produced by lac insects. Its origin is described in the EFSA assessment of shellac. Both substances therefore matter when making a vegan choice. This does not allow a blanket religious judgement about all products. Nor does this explanation mean that a particular Lala variety contains or excludes either substance.
Gelatine is not the same as pectin or agar
Gelatine is a protein made from animal raw materials containing collagen. It is used as a gelling agent. The European gelatine manufacturers' association, GME, explains this origin. ‘Beef gelatine’ identifies the animal species; on its own, it is not complete evidence of halal suitability.
Pectin occurs in fruit. Agar, E406, is instead obtained from certain algae, as described in the EFSA assessment of agar. These are different gelling agents, not simply other names for gelatine. Even so, ‘gelatine-free’ does not automatically mean ‘vegan’: the other ingredients, such as milk or honey, also matter.
What does halal slaughter have to do with sweets?
The connection arises through ingredients of animal origin, such as gelatine from land animals. The animals' origin and slaughter, as well as further processing, may therefore be relevant to a halal assessment.
Requirements are not the same in every standard. Halal Quality Control describes differing requirements for stunning, for example: some standards exclude it, while others allow certain methods under specified conditions. ‘Halal’ therefore does not universally mean ‘without stunning’. What matters is the standard that applies to the specific supply chain. HQC explains these differences in its FAQ.
How to read the information carefully
Start by checking the ingredients list for your chosen variety. Distinguish the general name of a substance from additional information about its origin and certification. When reviewing documentation, check the product covered, the scope and the validity. A certificate for a supplier does not automatically cover every one of its products.
At Lala, the halal documentation provided and the relevant product page can help. If you are missing specific information about an ingredient's origin, send us the product name and the ingredient details. For a vegan choice, start with our products labelled vegan.
