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Which sweets are halal? An easy-to-understand explanation.

As a Muslim in Germany, you often face the challenge of determining whether sweets are halal – that is, permitted according to Islamic law. This article clearly explains which food additives in sweets are forbidden (haram) for Muslims. This will help parents know which sweets Muslim children are allowed to eat, for example, at a birthday party.

Generally speaking, in Islam everything is permitted (halal) that is not explicitly forbidden (haram). What ingredients in sweets are explicitly forbidden and therefore not allowed to be consumed by Muslims? Here is a list:

  • Pork gelatin
  • Carmine (E120)
  • Shellac (E904)
  • Cysteine ​​(E920/921)
  • Ethanol alcohol
  • Cross-contamination

Pork gelatin – the binding agent for sweets

Gelatin is used in the production of sweets to set them, achieve a specific texture, and act as a binding agent. It is produced by boiling the bones, hides, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments of animals. In Europe, 80% of edible gelatin comes from pork and thus finds its way into sweets. This is problematic for Muslims, as the Quran explicitly forbids the consumption of pork. Surah 5, verse [number] states:

“Forbidden to you is (the consumption of) carrion, blood, pork, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah, and (the consumption of) strangled, beaten, fallen, or gored to death, and that which has been killed by a wild animal – …”

Alternatively, beef gelatin can be used in sweets. However, beef gelatin is only suitable for Muslims if it comes from a cow that was slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines.

Another alternative is sweets made entirely without gelatin. However, we explain in this article why vegan sweets are not necessarily halal.

Carmine (E120) – the dye from cochineal insects

Carmine is a food additive obtained by drying and boiling cochineal insects. The female cochineal insects used for this purpose come from Central America. Carmine is used as a red dye in sweets. It's worth noting that carmine is the only dye of animal origin. Carmine is also known as "true carmine," carminic acid, or cochineal. Whether carmine is halal or haram is a matter of scholarly debate. Due to this unresolved issue and the resulting uncertainty, we advise against consuming carmine.

Shellac (E904) – the excrement of the lac insect

Shellac is an excrement of the lac insect, which is found in Central America. The consistency of shellac is similar to resin. The female lac insect feeds and fills itself with the sap of trees and plants. This sap transforms into lacquer within the insect's body. From this lacquer, the insect forms a protective shell for its eggs until the young hatch and burrow through the lacquer layer. The insect's excrement, called shellac, is scraped from the trees, boiled down, and processed into the food additive E904 shellac. Shellac (E904) is used in confectionery as a glazing agent to provide shine and binding.

The classification of shellac as haram or halal is controversial among scholars. Those scholars who classify shellac as haram justify this with the prohibition against consuming excrement.

Yet other scholars classify shellac as halal. For example, scholars at Al-Azhar University in Cairo say that the extraction of shellac is similar to the extraction of honey, where the nectar of the bee is transformed into honey.

Cysteine ​​(E920/E921) – sometimes contains pig bristles

Cysteine ​​is a food additive and is often called cystine, L-cysteine, or L-cystine. Cysteine ​​can be produced synthetically or from keratin. The keratin required for cysteine ​​can be obtained from horns, feathers, hair , or pig bristles . The EU banned the use of human hair for the production of keratin or cysteine ​​in 2011.

Cysteine ​​is used to break down the gluten in flour. This makes the dough easier to knead. It also prevents the dough from sticking to the machines, speeding up production. Therefore, cysteine ​​can be found in bread, rolls, and various pasta products. Since cysteine ​​doesn't necessarily always come from pig bristles, you should ask the manufacturer about its production method if cysteine ​​(E920/E921) is listed in the ingredients.

Ethanol – alcohol in the aroma

To give foods like sweets a specific scent or flavor, the food industry uses flavorings. These flavorings often contain ethanol or alcohol as a carrier substance.

Cross-contamination – contamination through the mixing of traces

Even if sweets do not contain any of the aforementioned ingredients, there is a risk that they will not be considered halal if cross-contamination occurs. Cross-contamination can occur when sweets are manufactured in industrial facilities where non-halal products (e.g., those containing pork) are also produced. This results in the transfer of non-halal traces to the sweets, preventing them from being classified as halal.

    Here you can buy halal sweets.