E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR): Halal or Haram?

Doubtful

An emulsifier that makes chocolate flow smoothly with less cocoa butter. E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) is doubtful. On German labels: Polyglycerin-Polyricinoleat.

Plant oil or animal fat: the label does not say which

Why it is doubtful

The castor-oil part is plant, but the glycerol part can be made from animal fat, including pork. Fine when a plant source is declared or the product is marked vegan or vegetarian; otherwise the source needs confirming.

Halal or not depends on what it is made from

E476 is Mushbooh: Halal when its glycerol comes from plants or a Halal source, not when it comes from pork.

Made from	Verdict	Why
Castor oil with plant glycerol	Halal	No animal involved
Glycerol from a Halal-slaughtered animal	Halal	Lawful animal, slaughtered correctly
Glycerol from an animal not slaughtered the Islamic way	Haram	Not slaughtered correctly (see the scholarly view: some schools accept it after chemical change)
Glycerol from pork fat	Haram	Pork
Marked vegan or vegetarian	Halal	Confirms a plant source
Halal-certified product	Halal	A certifier checked the source
Source not stated on the label	Mushbooh	European labels do not have to say which

Scholarly view

Schools of law

Hanafi · Maliki · Shafi'i · HanbaliPGPR is normally made from castor or soybean oil, which is plant-based, so all four schools clear it on the source rule. The only question arises if the glycerol part came from animal fat: there the schools split — Hanafi and Maliki accept that processing changes it into a new substance (istihala), while Shafi'i and Hanbali do not.

Leans permissible

Certification bodies

Certifiers (Halal-certified PGPR is common)Halal-certified PGPR is standard in chocolate manufacture.ISA/industry ↗

Permissible

Dept. of Islamic Development Malaysia / Halal Food Authority, UKE476 (PGPR) from castor/soybean is plant-based and certified Halal; verify only if the glycerol component is animal-derived.JAKIM — Halal Malaysia Portal ↗HFA FAQ ↗

Permissible

Fatwa councils, scholars and other sources

Standard source (castor / soybean oil — plant)PGPR is made from ricinoleic acid of castor-bean oil (plant); generally accepted as Halal.isithalalorharam ↗

Leans permissible

Mustakshif Shariah BoardNo universal fatwa; the glycerol could be processed with animal fat, so verify without certification.Mustakshif ↗

Doubtful

Only views with a published source are listed. Our app shows E476 as Mushbooh unless the label or the maker settles the source.

Where you meet it

Chocolate, chocolate coatings, spreads.

What to do in the shop

Look for a product that names the source, says plant-based or vegan, or carries a Halal certificate. If nothing on the packet settles it, the manufacturer can tell you, and their answer is the only thing that turns E476 from a question into an answer.

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 E476 Halal?

E476 Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) is doubtful. The castor-oil part is plant, but the glycerol part can be made from animal fat, including pork. Fine when a plant source is declared or the product is marked vegan or vegetarian; otherwise the source needs confirming.

How do I know if the E476 in a product is Halal?

Only the manufacturer can tell you which source they used, unless the packet says plant-based, vegan, or carries a Halal certificate.

Related additives

E475 Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids · Doubtful
E477 Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids · Doubtful
E474 Sucroglycerides · Doubtful

See all E-numbers →

Read this in Turkish: E476 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.