isithalal.food

Are Plant Colours Like Curcumin and Beetroot Red Halal?

Yes — this one is Halal.

Halal
High confidence About this ruling

About this ruling

Evidence confidence
High means this page cites a primary regulator listing and a named Halal certifier source, retrieved 16 August 2026. That describes the quality of the sources on this page—not a Halal certificate for the pack or outlet in your hand.
How we score High, Medium, and Low

Reviewed

These colours are turmeric, vitamin B2, leaf pigments, plant char, paprika, tomato lycopene, beet, and berry anthocyanins.

Next step Treat curcumin, riboflavin, chlorophyll, paprika, lycopene, beet red, and anthocyanins as Halal plant or fermentation colours. Carmine is not in this family. How to verify
Scan a label

Additive identity

E-number
E100, E101, E101a, E140, E141, E153, E160c, E160d, E162, E163
Codex INS
INS 100, INS 101, INS 101a, INS 140, INS 141, INS 153, INS 160c, INS 160d, INS 162, INS 163
Function
colour
Family
colours
EU Union list
authorised
Names
Curcumin; Riboflavins; Chlorophylls; Vegetable carbon; Paprika extract; Lycopene; Beetroot Red; Anthocyanins

Possible source pathways

The finished molecule can be identical across feedstocks. The Halal ruling follows the pathway, not the code alone.

E100 Possible source pathways

  • plant Halal Typical Botanical identity. No animal tissue is required for standard food grade.

E-number database Compare this family

What decides the answer

  • E100/E101/E140/E141/E153/E160c/E160d/E162/E163

    Halal

  • Carmine remains a separate colour

  • Finished product: still check gelatin

Why this ruling

This page covers the colours made from plants and by fermentation: curcumin (E100), riboflavin (E101), chlorophylls (E140–E141), vegetable carbon (E153), paprika extract (E160c), lycopene (E160d), beetroot red (E162) and anthocyanins (E163). They are Halal, and they are what Halal shoppers usually want to see instead of carmine.[4][6]

The colours and their sources

Code Colour Where it comes from
E100 Yellow Curcumin from turmeric root
E101 Yellow Riboflavin, vitamin B2, made by fermentation
E140, E141 Green Chlorophyll from grass, alfalfa or nettles
E153 Black Vegetable carbon from charred plant material
E160c Red-orange Paprika extract
E160d Red Lycopene from tomatoes or by fermentation
E162 Pink-red Beetroot
E163 Red, purple, blue Anthocyanins from grape skins, berries, red cabbage or black carrot

Turmeric's curcumin is the best-documented of the group, and certifier lists treat it and its siblings as additives that need no source check.[1][2][3]

One name worth reading closely

Vegetable carbon (E153) is charred plant material such as coconut shell or wood. It is not bone char, which is used in some sugar refining outside the EU but is not a food colour and does not appear as E153.

Where you will see them

Curcumin colours mustard, curries, cheese sauces and sweets; paprika extract colours crisps and sausages; beetroot and anthocyanins colour yoghurts, jellies and drinks; chlorophyll greens mint sweets and ice cream; vegetable carbon blackens liquorice and some bread.

What still needs a look

A plant colour makes the colour Halal, not the product. Fruit yoghurts, jellies and gummy sweets that use these colours often contain gelatin. For the orange carotenoids and annatto, see the sister page, E160a; for synthetic dyes, E102; for caramel colours, E150.

How to verify

  1. Match E100, E101, E140, E153, E160c, E160d, E162, E163.
  2. Halal.
  3. Carotenes are on E160a. Carmine is E120.

Quick checks

  • Turmeric, vitamin B2, chlorophyll, vegetable carbon, paprika, lycopene, beet and anthocyanins are plant or fermentation colours: Halal.
  • A red sweet or yoghurt coloured with beetroot (E162), paprika (E160c) or anthocyanins (E163) is not using carmine (E120).
  • E153 is carbon from plants, not bone char.

Frequently asked questions

Is curcumin Halal?
Yes. Curcumin (E100) is the yellow pigment extracted from turmeric root.
Is riboflavin Halal?
Yes. Riboflavin (E101) is vitamin B2, made today mostly by fermentation.
Is vegetable carbon (E153) bone char?
No. E153 is made by charring plant material such as wood or coconut shells. Bone char is used by some sugar refineries, and it is not E153.
Is beetroot red Halal?
Yes. Beetroot red (E162) is juice concentrate from red beets. It is one of the usual replacements for carmine in pink and red foods.

Scholarly view

These are the colours Halal shoppers want when avoiding insects. Vegetable carbon (E153) is charred plant matter, not bone char.

Sources

Named Islamic, certifier, manufacturer, and regulatory sources used on this page. Inline markers like [1] jump here. Retrieval dates show when we last checked the live URL. Editorial methodology.

Certifier / jurisdiction

  1. SANHA — E100 (Curcumin)

    SANHA Retrieved

    Certifier: SANHA

    Named SANHA E-number entry (ingredient-class; not a product certificate).

  2. SANHA — E-numbers

    SANHA Retrieved

    Certifier: SANHA

    Certifier E-number literacy; not a product certificate.

Regulatory / labelling

  1. EFSA — Re-evaluation of curcumin (E100)

    European Food Safety Authority Retrieved

    Substance identity—not a Halal certificate for a finished pack.

  2. 21 CFR § 73.600 turmeric

    U.S. eCFR Retrieved

    U.S. identity / GRAS or colour-additive listing—not a Halal ruling.

  3. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives

    European Union Retrieved

    Union-list identity—not a Halal certificate.

  4. European Commission — Food additives

    European Commission Retrieved

    EU additive literacy hub.

  5. Codex GSFA online

    FAO / WHO Codex Retrieved

    Codex INS / GSFA identity.

  6. U.S. FDA — Food additives

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration Retrieved

    US identity / labelling context—not a Halal ruling.

Browse this topic

Open the parent category hub for more foods in the same group.