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Is E476 (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate) 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, 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.
How we score High, Medium, and Low

Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476, PGPR) is a chocolate emulsifier whose fatty-acid side is ricinoleic acid from castor oil—a plant.

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 polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476) European Food Safety Authority Regulatory / labelling
European Commission — Food additives European Commission Regulatory / labelling
Codex GSFA online FAO / WHO Codex Regulatory / labelling

Full Sources

Additive identity

E-number
E476
Codex INS
INS 476
Function
emulsifier
Family
glycerol esters
EU Union list
authorised
Names
Polyglycerol polyricinoleate; PGPR; Polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids from castor oil

Possible source pathways

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

  • plant · Typical Halal Ricinoleic acid is from castor oil (Ricinus communis). Polyglycerol is polymerised glycerol; commercial PGPR for chocolate is specified from castor.
  • animal Halal if verified Glycerol used to build polyglycerol can theoretically be animal-fat derived. That residual is why unspecified PGPR is still worth a plant/Halal check, even though the ricinoleate side is castor.

E-number database

Milk chocolate squares, a common PGPR / E476 application

Why this ruling

PGPR—polyglycerol polyricinoleate, E476, INS 476—is the emulsifier chocolate makers use to thin molten chocolate and spare cocoa butter. US labels say PGPR; EU labels say E476. Same additive.[1]

EFSA identifies E476 as polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids from castor oil. Ricinoleic acid is a castor (plant) marker, which is why PGPR is not the same coin-flip as E471. The other half of the molecule is polyglycerol, built from glycerol—and glycerol can be vegetable, synthetic, or animal.[2][4]

This site therefore keeps unspecified PGPR as Halal if verified: ask whether the PGPR is a castor/vegetable grade, or buy Halal-certified chocolate. Do not file E476 as automatically haram, and do not confuse it with E475 (polyglycerol esters of mixed fatty acids), which behaves like the E471 family.

A bar that lists PGPR can still fail for other reasons—E471, gelatin fillings, alcohol flavour, or milk from a non-issue dairy line you personally avoid. Read the whole list.

Where you'll find it

  • Chocolate and compound coatings (reduces cocoa butter, controls viscosity)
  • Low-fat spreads and dressings
  • Some low-fat dressings and sauces

How to verify

1) Match PGPR, polyglycerol polyricinoleate, or E476 / INS 476. 2) Halal-certified chocolate settles it. 3) Ask confectioners whether PGPR is castor oil / vegetable glycerol. 4) Still check lecithin, E471, and milk ingredients on the same bar.

  • E476 = PGPR = castor polyricinoleate + polyglycerol.
  • Castor side is plant; glycerol side still deserves a check.
  • Halal chocolate marks close the file.

Conditions for Halal

  • Castor-oil PGPR with vegetable or synthetic glycerol, or Halal-certified chocolate → Halal
  • Unspecified PGPR / E476 → Halal if verified (confirm glycerol/PGPR spec)
  • Animal-glycerol PGPR from pork or non-zabiha fat → haram

Scholarly differences

Unlike E471, the defining fatty acid in PGPR is ricinoleic acid from castor oil—not a tallow/lard coin-flip. Certifier practice still asks about glycerol origin. This page does not treat unlabeled PGPR as automatically Halal, and does not treat it as automatically mashbooh-as-E471 either: the castor identity is real, and the glycerol residual is the remaining check.

Frequently asked questions

Is PGPR Halal?
Usually, once the spec is known: the ricinoleate comes from castor oil. Confirm the glycerol/polyglycerol side or use Halal-certified chocolate when you want a closed file.
Is E476 the same as E475?
No. E475 is polyglycerol esters of mixed fatty acids (source-dependent like E471). E476 is specifically polyricinoleate from castor.
Why is PGPR in cheap chocolate?
It thins chocolate so less cocoa butter is needed. That is economics, not a Halal verdict.

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.

Regulatory / labelling

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

    European Union

    Union-list identity for E476.

    Retrieved:

  2. EFSA — Re-evaluation of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476)

    European Food Safety Authority

    Identity: polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids from castor oil. Safety opinion, not Halal.

    Retrieved:

  3. European Commission — Food additives

    European Commission

    EU additive literacy hub.

    Retrieved:

  4. Codex GSFA online

    FAO / WHO Codex

    INS 476 PGPR.

    Retrieved:

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Applies to
General ruling; confirm local labels, slaughter, and certification when relevant
Last reviewed