Emulsifier, thickener or gelling agent

Is E570 (Stearic acid) halal?

A fatty acid used as a lubricant and hardener in foods, tablets and cosmetics. Plant-derived stearic acid is the halal industry standard, but the same name covers the pig-fat version.

Source-dependentDoubtful until the source is known (mashbooh)

Halal from plant fat — the halal industry standard; haram from pork fat. Undeclared source is doubtful.

The detail

Stearic acid sits at the root of a family of doubtful additives: its salts and esters become magnesium stearate (E572), sodium stearate, and the stearate emulsifiers E481/E482. HalalExpo's checker records plant-derived stearic acid as the halal industry standard, porcine as haram, and unspecified as requiring source documentation. MuslimConsumerGroup states the same condition. IFANCA lists stearic acid among doubtful ingredients in candy and gum.

What the sources say

Mushbooh, Halal if the source is from plant fat, Haraam if it is from pork fat
Mashbooh (conditional) Halal if the source is plant fat; haram if from pork fat. Halal Authority India (certifier reference table · grade B: certifier guidance · accessed 2026-08-21)
Halal. Plant-derived stearic acid is the halal industry standard. ... Mashbooh without source documentation.
Halal (plant) / haram (porcine) / verify (unspecified) Plant-derived is the halal industry standard; porcine haram; unspecified needs documentation. HalalExpo (secondary aggregator · grade C: secondary reference · accessed 2026-08-21)
Gum — Glycerin, Stearic Acid
Mashbooh (investigate) Listed among doubtful ingredients in candy and gum. IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America) (certifier guidance · grade A: primary source · accessed 2026-08-21)

Where you will run into it

How to check it yourself

In food, look for a vegan mark or halal logo. In tablets and capsules, stearic acid usually appears as magnesium stearate — see that entry.

Quick facts

E-numberE570
NameStearic acid
Also on labels asstearic acid, octadecanoic acid
Additive classEmulsifier, thickener or gelling agent
ClassificationSource-dependent
Last verified2026-08-21

Common questions

Is E570 (Stearic acid) halal?

Stearic acid is classified as Source-dependent. Halal from plant fat — the halal industry standard; haram from pork fat. Undeclared source is doubtful.

Is Stearic acid halal or haram?

On the evidence cited on this page, Stearic acid is source-dependent. Doubtful until the source is known (mashbooh) Every position is attributed to a named certifier or scholarly body with a link, so you can verify it directly.

What else is Stearic acid called on ingredient labels?

It can appear as: stearic acid, octadecanoic acid.

Why isn't there a single yes/no answer for E570?

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.

Related lookups

Record e570-stearic-acid · last verified 2026-08-21 · report an error