Many foods are easy to classify as Halal or Haram. However, some foods are difficult to classify because of the ingredients they contain. It is very necessary to check whether they have a Halal Certificate. The following is a list of some common Halal raw and auxiliary materials:

List of some Halal ingredients:

Antioxidants: chemical compounds used to protect certain food ingredients from oxidative destruction or loss. Antioxidants also help neutralize free radicals in the body.

Ascorbic acid: vitamin C.

Benzoates (benzoic acid): benzoic acid and sodium benzoate are used for food preservation.

Biotin: a member of the B-complex vitamins.

BHA: antioxidant, preservative.

BHT: antioxidant, preservative.

Citric acid: the source is plants, usually citrus (e.g. orange, lime, lemon, etc.).

Cobalamin: synthetically prepared vitamin B12.

Dextrin: an emulsifier, sizing agent and thickener.

Fiber: the source is plants. Provides roughage in the diet.

Fructose: fruit sugar.

Gliadin (gluten): a protein found in wheat and rye.

Hydrogenated oil: vegetable oil is hydrogenated to make it solid at room temperature.

Iodine: a nutritional mineral for the thyroid.

Lecithin: an emulsifier for fats. In the United States, the source is mainly soybeans and egg yolk.

Lipids: essential fatty acids found in fish, plants and animals. If the source is animal, suspect.

Malt: a fermented grain.

Molasses: the syrup liquid obtained in refining sugar.

MSG: seasoning. Imparts a meaty flavor to food.

Niacin: one of the B-complex vitamins.

PABA: a food supplement.

Pectin: a gel-like substance extracted from fruit.

Propionic acid: preservative.

Riboflavin: one of the B-complex vitamins. Usually, the source is synthetic.

Sweeteners: substances that produce a sweet taste.

Thiamine: one of the B-complex vitamins.

Vanillin: a flavoring agent, extracted from vanilla.

Vitamin A: if the source is plant and synthetic, it is Halal.

Vitamin C: the natural source comes from plants (e.g. citrus fruits, tomatoes, etc.).

Vitamin D: the natural source is yeast and fish liver oil. Also produced synthetically.

Vitamin E: a rich source of vitamin E is vegetable oil. If the source is synthetic, it is Halal. If the source is animal, it is questionable.

Water: solvent, a nutrient essential to human survival.

Food yeast: microscopic, single-celled fungi used in fermentation processes and bread baking.

Please note that the Halal raw and auxiliary materials listed above still require Halal certification. Halal certification is a process of certifying the procurement, warehousing, transfer, processing, packaging, transportation and other processes of a product; any one of these processes may affect the Halal status of the product.

List of some Haram raw and auxiliary materials:

(For food) Forbidden: dead meat; blood; the flesh of pigs; animals that have been strangled; or killed by a violent blow; or by a headlong fall; or animal carcasses (partly) eaten by wild animals, etc.

According to Halal certification standards, Haram substances are divided into three major categories: dead meat, blood and pork. According to Halal certification standards (as interpreted by Muslim scholars), if a product contains, is derived from, or comes into contact with any of the following sources, the product is considered a Haram (forbidden) ingredient that cannot be consumed or used:

- Pork and pork-derived products (including pig-hair brushes, pig-bone activated carbon, etc.).

- Dead animals, such as strangled animals; animals killed by a blow to the head or by falling from a height; animals that died of natural causes (carrion); animals stabbed or killed by another animal.

- Animals slaughtered in any name other than Allah's.

- Animals or meat won through gambling or betting.

- Animals illegally hunted during Ashhur Alhurum (the sacred months)

- Animals not properly slaughtered according to Halal certification standards.

- Carnivorous and omnivorous animals with canine teeth or claws, such as dogs; cats; lions, tigers, wolves, monkeys, etc., as well as birds of prey such as eagles; hawks, owls, etc.

- Animals that feed on filth (Al Jallalah), such as vultures; rats; or those fed animal feed made from other dead animals.

- Species forbidden to be killed, such as bees; endangered species; etc.

- Toxic and harmful animal species, such as venomous snakes; scorpions, spiders, as well as toxic and harmful plants.

- Animals considered dirty and that may carry diseases, such as cockroaches; donkeys, rats; etc.

- The milk of forbidden animals and the eggs of forbidden birds.

- Food additives from forbidden sources or processed with forbidden preparations.

- Any meat or body part cut from a living animal.

- Any part of the human body.

- Blood and blood components, except for pharmaceuticals.

- Alcoholic beverages (Khamr), as well as other intoxicating and harmful products, drugs or narcotics, whether natural or synthetic, such as opium; cannabis, cocaine; other hallucinogens; known carcinogens; etc.

For more knowledge about Halal raw and auxiliary materials, please call the certification center's official designated Halal certification hotline: 400-001-7706

FAQ

Which common food ingredients are Halal raw and auxiliary materials?
Common Halal ingredients include: ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid (mostly from citrus plants), pectin (extracted from fruit), plant-source fiber and dextrin, synthetic vitamins A/C, lecithin from soybeans and egg yolk, fructose, molasses, MSG, various B-complex vitamins (riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, etc.), vanillin extracted from vanilla, as well as water and food yeast. However, note that these ingredients still need to undergo Halal certification.
Why do ingredients listed as Halal still need Halal certification?
Because Halal certification certifies the entire process of a product's procurement, warehousing, transfer, processing, packaging and transportation, and any one of these links may affect the product's Halal status, mere compliance of the ingredient itself is not enough.
Into what categories are Haram substances mainly divided under Halal certification standards?
They are mainly divided into three categories: dead meat, blood and pork. If a product contains, is derived from, or comes into contact with these sources, it is considered Haram. Specifically forbidden items also include: pork and its derivatives (such as pig-hair brushes, pig-bone activated carbon), animals that died naturally or were strangled/struck dead, animals slaughtered in a name other than Allah's, animals not slaughtered according to Halal standards, carnivorous/omnivorous animals with canine teeth or claws and birds of prey, alcoholic beverages (Khamr) and intoxicating harmful products, any part of the human body, and blood except for pharmaceuticals.
Why do ingredients like lecithin require special scrutiny?
Lecithin can be extracted from plants or animals. In the United States its source is mainly soybeans and egg yolk; if from plants it is considered Halal, but if from pigs or animals not slaughtered according to Islamic law, it is considered non-Halal. Lipids (essential fatty acids), if of animal source, are also questionable and require verification.