Flavour enhancer
Is E631 (Sodium inosinate) halal?
The savoury booster behind 'chicken' flavour noodles and crisps. It can come from sardines, from pork, or from fermentation — and the pack only says E631.
Halal from fish (sardines) or fermentation; haram if extracted from pig meat; doubtful from brewer's yeast, a beer-making by-product. JAKIM requires source documentation.
The detail
Sodium inosinate amplifies savoury taste, almost always paired with MSG (E621) and disodium guanylate (E627). MuslimConsumerGroup documents the three routes: sardines (halal), pig meat (haram), and brewer's yeast extract — a by-product of beer making — which it classes as mushbooh. HalalExpo's checker flags it as potentially pork-derived and notes JAKIM requires source documentation. In practice, large snack brands selling into Malaysia and the Gulf carry halal certification that settles the source; unbranded or uncertified savoury snacks are where the question stays open.
What the sources say
Halal if it is obtained from sardines. Mushbooh if it is made from brewer yeast extract, a by-product of beer making. Haraam if it is extracted from pig meat.
Halal if it is obtained from sardines. Mushbooh if it is made from brewer yeast extract, a by-product of beer making. Haraam if it is extracted from pig meat.
Mashbooh — can be pork-derived. ... Source must be verified.
Where you will run into it
- Instant noodles
- Flavoured crisps and snacks
- Seasoning mixes
- Canned soups
- Stock cubes
How to check it yourself
A halal certification mark on the snack settles E631 with it. Without one, the manufacturer question is: is the inosinate fish-derived, fermentation-derived, or meat-derived?
Quick facts
| E-number | E631 |
|---|---|
| Name | Sodium inosinate |
| Also on labels as | sodium inosinate, inosinate, disodium inosinate, imp |
| Additive class | Flavour enhancer |
| Classification | Source-dependent |
| Last verified | 2026-08-21 |
Common questions
Is E631 (Sodium inosinate) halal?
Sodium inosinate is classified as Source-dependent. Halal from fish (sardines) or fermentation; haram if extracted from pig meat; doubtful from brewer's yeast, a beer-making by-product. JAKIM requires source documentation.
Is Sodium inosinate halal or haram?
On the evidence cited on this page, Sodium inosinate 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 Sodium inosinate called on ingredient labels?
It can appear as: sodium inosinate, inosinate, disodium inosinate, imp.
Why isn't there a single yes/no answer for E631?
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
- Guanosine monophosphate (GMP)Source-dependent
- Inosine monophosphate (IMP)Source-dependent
- Calcium GuanylateSource-dependent
- Calcium InosinateSource-dependent
- Calcium5-RibonucleotideSource-dependent
- Dipotassium GuanylateSource-dependent
Record e631-sodium-inosinate · last verified 2026-08-21 · report an error