E-number database
Ascorbic acid versus ascorbyl palmitate (E300–E304)
Vitamin C and its mineral salts are Halal. Ascorbyl palmitate (E304) is a fat ester of the same vitamin, so it inherits a plant-versus-animal fatty-acid question.
- E300 INS 300 E300–E302 (Ascorbic acid and ascorbates / vitamin C) Halal Ascorbic acid (E300) and its sodium and calcium salts (E301, E302) are vitamin C. Standard food-grade production is from plant carbohydrate. syntheticHalal
- E304 INS 304 Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid / ascorbyl palmitate Source-dependent Halal if verified E304 is ascorbic acid esterified with palmitic or stearic acid. Vitamin C is Halal; the fatty acid may be plant or animal. plantHalal animalHalal if verified undisclosedHalal if verified
How they differ
Ascorbic acid (E300) is vitamin C, and sodium and calcium ascorbate (E301, E302) are its salts. They stop fruit browning, keep cured meat pink and act as flour improvers; you see them on juices, bread, tinned fruit and ham. Food-grade vitamin C is made from glucose by fermentation and chemical steps, so E300 to E302 are Halal.
Ascorbyl palmitate (E304) is different: vitamin C joined to palmitic or stearic acid so it dissolves in fat, which is why it appears in oils, margarine and infant formula. The fatty acid can be palm or tallow, so E304 is Halal if verified while the rest of the family is simply Halal.
On the label
- “Antioxidant (ascorbic acid)” or “vitamin C” on a label is E300.
- “Ascorbyl palmitate” or E304 is the only member with a source question.
- In ham or sausages the ascorbate is fine; the meat is what needs checking.
Frequently asked questions
Is E300 Halal?
Yes. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C made from plant glucose, with no animal input.
Why is E304 Halal if verified when E300 is Halal?
E304 adds a fatty acid, which can come from palm oil or from animal fat. The vitamin C part is not the issue.