Additive identity
Possible source pathways
The finished molecule can be identical across feedstocks. The Halal ruling follows the pathway, not the code alone.
E410 Possible source pathways
- plant Halal Typical Botanical identity. No animal tissue is required for standard food grade.
What decides the answer
-
These gum codes
Halal plant thickeners -
Shellac E904 is a different insect glaze
-
Finished sweets: still check gelatin
Where you'll find it
- Soft-drink clouding (gum arabic)
- Ice cream and gluten-free baking
Why this ruling
This page covers the plant gums: sticky saps from trees, flours ground from seeds, a gel made by bacteria and a jelly from a tuber. They thicken, stabilise and set foods, and they are the usual plant alternatives to gelatin. All of them are Halal.[3][5] Certifier lists put them with the additives that need no check.[6]
The gums on this page
| Code | Name | Comes from | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| E410 | Locust bean (carob) gum | Carob tree seeds | Ice cream, cream cheese, sauces |
| E413 | Tragacanth | Sap of a Middle Eastern shrub | Icing, sugar paste |
| E414 | Gum arabic (acacia) | Sap of acacia trees, mostly from Sudan and the Sahel | Soft-drink flavour emulsions, pastilles, sweet coatings |
| E416 | Karaya | Sap of sterculia trees | Dressings, fillings |
| E417 | Tara gum | Tara tree seeds | Dairy desserts, sauces |
| E418 | Gellan | Fermentation by a bacterium | Plant milks, vegan jellies and gummies |
| E425 | Konjac | Konjac tuber | Konjac noodles and jellies |
| E426, E427 | Soybean hemicellulose, cassia gum | Soya fibre, cassia seeds | Drinks, pet foods and some desserts |
US rules list gum arabic and locust bean gum as generally recognised food substances.[1][2] Guar, xanthan, agar, carrageenan and pectin have their own pages: see guar gum, xanthan gum, agar, carrageenan and pectin.
Gum arabic is not shellac
"Gum" and "glaze" can sound alike on a sweet wrapper. Gum arabic is a tree sap. Shellac (E904), sometimes called confectioner's glaze, comes from the lac insect and has its own page; see shellac.
The finished product still decides
A plant gum on the label does not make a sweet or dessert Halal. Wine gums, despite the name, contain no wine, but many are set with gelatin rather than gum; see gelatin. Ice cream may use locust bean gum and still contain other emulsifiers that need a check; see ice cream.
How to verify
- Match E410, E413, E414, E416–E418, E425–E427, gum arabic, or locust bean gum.
- Halal.
- Guar is E412, xanthan E415, agar E406, carrageenan E407, pectin E440.
Quick checks
- Gum arabic, locust bean, tragacanth, gellan, konjac, tara and cassia gums are plant or fermentation thickeners: no check needed.
- They are not shellac (E904) or gelatin, even on the same sweet.
- Guar gum, xanthan gum and agar have their own pages.
Frequently asked questions
Is gum arabic Halal?
Is konjac Halal?
Is gellan gum Halal?
Is locust bean gum the same as carob?
Scholarly view
Gum arabic is a tree exudate, not an insect glaze. Shellac (E904) is the insect glaze with its own page.
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
Regulatory / labelling
-
21 CFR § 184.1330 acacia (gum arabic)
U.S. eCFR Retrieved
U.S. identity / GRAS or colour-additive listing—not a Halal ruling.
-
21 CFR § 184.1343 locust (carob) bean gum
U.S. eCFR Retrieved
U.S. identity / GRAS or colour-additive listing—not a Halal ruling.
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives
European Union Retrieved
Union-list identity—not a Halal certificate.
-
-
-
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Retrieved
US identity / labelling context—not a Halal ruling.
People also check
Related ingredients and products for this item.
