E129 Allura Red AC: Halal or Haram?

Halal

A synthetic red colour. E129 (Allura Red AC) is Halal. Also called Red 40 or FD&C Red 40. Sold as a lake, with the colour bound to aluminium, it is called Red 40 Lake.

Made in a laboratory

Why it is Halal

It is made synthetically from petrochemical raw materials, with no animal step. Unlike E120 it has nothing to do with insects. Worth knowing all the same: in the EU most foods coloured with E129 must say on the label that they may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.

Where you meet it

Sweets, soft drinks, desserts, cake decorations.

What to do in the shop

Nothing special to do for E129 itself. Read the rest of the list: a product is only as clear as its least clear ingredient.

A status here describes the additive in general, and a specific product can be different. The same number can be made from plant or animal material depending on the manufacturer, and the label does not say which.

Questions people ask

Is E129 Halal?

Yes. E129 (Allura Red AC) is Halal: it raises no animal-source question. The rest of the ingredient list still decides the product.

What is E129 made from?

It is made synthetically from petrochemical raw materials, with no animal step. Unlike E120 it has nothing to do with insects. Worth knowing all the same: in the EU most foods coloured with E129 must say on the label that they may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.

Related additives

See all E-numbers →

Read this in Turkish: E129 helal mi? →

Products we asked the manufacturer about →

Check a product, not just a number

An additive's status describes the additive in general. What matters is the whole ingredient list on the packet in your hand.

This is information, not a fatwa. These statuses combine published scholarly positions with ingredient analysis, and they can be incomplete or out of date. For anything that matters, confirm with the manufacturer and with a qualified authority.