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E-number database

Intense sweeteners

Aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose, stevia, saccharin, cyclamate, thaumatin, neotame, and advantame are Halal as molecules. Diet drinks still need a flavour and colour read.

E-number database

  1. E952 INS 952 Remaining intense sweeteners (cyclamate, saccharin, thaumatin, neotame, advantame) Halal Cyclamate, saccharin, neotame, advantame, neohesperidine DC, and the aspartame-acesulfame salt are synthetic intense sweeteners. syntheticHalal
  2. E951 INS 951 Aspartame (E951) Halal Aspartame (E951; historically sold as NutraSweet/Equal) is a synthetic dipeptide sweetener—not pork, wine, or slaughter-dependent meat. syntheticHalal
  3. E950 INS 950 Acesulfame K (E950) Halal Acesulfame K (Ace-K, E950) is a fully synthetic sweetener made from chemical feedstocks, with no animal tissue or drinking alcohol. syntheticHalal
  4. E955 INS 955 Sucralose Halal Sucralose (E955; often sold as Splenda) is made by selectively chlorinating sugar to produce a high-intensity sweetener. syntheticHalal
  5. E960 INS 960 Stevia Halal Stevia sweeteners are steviol glycosides extracted from the Stevia rebaudiana plant (or produced to the same molecular profile). plantHalal

How they differ

Intense sweeteners are used in tiny amounts in diet drinks, sugar-free sweets and tabletop sachets: acesulfame K (E950), aspartame (E951), cyclamate (E952), saccharin (E954), sucralose (E955), thaumatin (E957), neohesperidine DC (E959), steviol glycosides from stevia (E960), neotame (E961), the aspartame-acesulfame salt (E962) and advantame (E969).

As molecules they are all Halal: synthetic, or extracted from plants in the case of stevia and thaumatin. A diet cola or sugar-free sweet is not Halal because of its sweetener alone; its flavourings, colours and, for sweets, any gelatin still decide.

On the label

  • “Sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K)” is this family.
  • “Contains a source of phenylalanine” is a health warning for aspartame, not a Halal one.
  • Stevia products sometimes include erythritol; that is a Halal polyol.

Frequently asked questions

Is aspartame Halal?

Yes. It is a synthetic sweetener made from two amino acids, with no animal or alcohol source.

Is sucralose Halal?

Yes. It is made by chlorinating sugar.