Colour
Is E120 (Carmine) halal?
A red dye crushed from cochineal insects. The majority of scholars and most certifiers rule it haram; a minority permit it. This is a genuine disagreement, not a settled matter.
Majority position: haram, because the source is an insect. A minority Maliki view and some Hanafi scholars permit it. Certifiers including JAKIM and BPJPH reject it.
The detail
Carmine is extracted from female cochineal insects, so the ruling turns on whether insects are a permissible food source. The majority of contemporary scholars across the Hanafi, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools treat it as haram, and certifiers including JAKIM and BPJPH reject it. HalalCodeCheck documents a minority Maliki view permitting small insects, and HalalExpo's checker notes some Hanafi scholars permit it. MuslimConsumerGroup states it is haram according to Hanafi fiqh. Because reputable positions genuinely differ, this entry shows each one rather than picking a winner.
What the sources say
These positions genuinely conflict. We report each one; we do not pick a winner.
Haraam
Red colour from crushed insects ... some Maliki scholars permit small insects, so a minority view allows it.
Haram per JAKIM, BPJPH, and most certifiers. Some Hanafi scholars permit it, but most certifiers reject it.
The four E-numbers Muslim consumers must avoid are E120 (carmine, insect-derived), E441 (animal gelatine), E542 (bone phosphate), and E904 (shellac).
Haraam according to Hanafi Fiqqah
Where you will run into it
- Red and pink sweets
- Strawberry yogurt
- Soft drinks
- Lipstick and blush
- Icing and sprinkles
How to check it yourself
If you follow the majority position, avoid E120, 'carmine', 'cochineal extract', 'carminic acid' and 'Natural Red 4'. Plant substitutes used in halal-certified products: beetroot red (E162), paprika extract (E160c), lycopene (E160d).
Quick facts
| E-number | E120 |
|---|---|
| Name | Carmine (cochineal) |
| Also on labels as | carmine, cochineal, cochineal extract, carminic acid, natural red 4, crimson lake |
| Additive class | Colour |
| Classification | Scholarly disagreement |
| Last verified | 2026-08-21 |
Common questions
Is E120 (Carmine) halal?
Carmine (cochineal) is classified as Scholarly disagreement. Majority position: haram, because the source is an insect. A minority Maliki view and some Hanafi scholars permit it. Certifiers including JAKIM and BPJPH reject it.
Is Carmine halal or haram?
On the evidence cited on this page, Carmine is scholarly disagreement. Reputable authorities disagree — positions shown, not resolved Every position is attributed to a named certifier or scholarly body with a link, so you can verify it directly.
What else is Carmine called on ingredient labels?
It can appear as: carmine, cochineal, cochineal extract, carminic acid, natural red 4, crimson lake.
Why isn't there a single yes/no answer for E120?
Because the ruling depends on information the label does not carry — the source material, the production route, or which scholarly position you follow. This page shows each named position with a link so you can check it yourself.
Where does this page's information come from?
Every position on this page is attributed to a named certifier or scholarly body with a direct link, listed under 'What the sources say'. Muttoo aggregates and cites; it does not issue rulings.
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Record e120-carmine · last verified 2026-08-21 · report an error