Is E304 (Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid / ascorbyl palmitate) Halal?
It depends on what the label says.
Halal if verified
High confidence About this ruling
About this ruling
- Condition
- Source disclosure is incomplete
- Evidence confidence
- High means this page cites a primary regulator listing and a named Halal certifier listing, retrieved 15 August 2026. That describes the quality of the sources on this page—not a Halal certificate for the pack or outlet in your hand.
E304 is ascorbic acid esterified with palmitic or stearic acid.
Evidence at a glance
Named sources used for this page. Open the full Sources block for notes and citation numbers.
| Source | Type | Retrieved |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives European Union | Regulatory / labelling | |
| EFSA — Re-evaluation of ascorbic acid (E300) and related ascorbates including E304 European Food Safety Authority | Regulatory / labelling | |
| European Commission — Food additives European Commission | Regulatory / labelling | |
| Codex GSFA online FAO / WHO Codex | Regulatory / labelling | |
| SANHA — Mashbooh E-numbers SANHA | Certifier / jurisdiction |
Additive identity
Possible source pathways
The finished molecule can be identical across feedstocks. The Halal ruling follows the pathway, not the code alone.
- plant · Typical Halal Fatty acids from palm, soy, sunflower, or other vegetable oils.
- animal Halal if verified The same esters can be split from tallow or lard. Pork or non-zabiha fat is haram.
- undisclosed · Typical Halal if verified Most labels print only the E-number or US name. Treat as mashbooh until a plant, vegan, or Halal claim settles the fat.
Why this ruling
Ascorbyl palmitate (and ascorbyl stearate) is E304: ascorbic acid tied to a fatty acid so it can sit in oils and formula fats. US supplement facts panels often spell the name.[1][2]
Vitamin C is Halal. Palmitic and stearic acids may be palm or tallow. Unspecified E304 is mashbooh.[5] Plain ascorbic acid E300 does not inherit this question.
Where you'll find it
- Antioxidant in oils, infant formula, and sausages
- Vitamin C in fat-soluble systems
How to verify
1) Match E304, INS 304, ascorbyl palmitate, or ascorbyl stearate. 2) This is not plain vitamin C (E300–E302). 3) Vegetarian oil or Halal formula marks settle the fat.
- E304 = ascorbyl palmitate / stearate.
- Fat source, not vitamin C, decides.
- E300 is a different additive.
Conditions for Halal
- Plant-fat grade, or vegetarian/vegan claim → Halal
- Halal-certified SKU → Halal
- Pork or non-zabiha fat → haram
- Unspecified lot → Halal if verified
Scholarly differences
Do not treat E304 as automatically Halal because it contains ascorbic acid. The ester is a fat-source question, like E471.
Frequently asked questions
Is vitamin C Halal?
Is ascorbyl palmitate the same as E300?
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
-
SANHA
Source-dependent additives listed mashbooh pending origin.
Retrieved:
Regulatory / labelling
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives
European Union
Union-list identity—not a Halal certificate.
Retrieved:
-
EFSA — Re-evaluation of ascorbic acid (E300) and related ascorbates including E304
European Food Safety Authority
E304 is ascorbic acid esterified with palmitic or stearic acid that may be vegetable or animal.
Retrieved:
-
-
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