E422 Glycerol (glycerine): Halal or Haram?

Doubtful

A sweet, syrupy liquid that keeps food moist. E422 Glycerol (glycerine) is doubtful. Also written glycerin.

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

Why it is doubtful

It is produced from plant oils, from animal fat, or synthetically, and the source is not declared.

Halal or not depends on what it is made from

E422 is Mushbooh: Halal when it comes from plants or a Halal source, not when it comes from pork.

Made from	Verdict	Why
Plant oils	Halal	No animal involved
Made synthetically	Halal	No animal involved
Fat from a Halal-slaughtered animal	Halal	Lawful animal, slaughtered correctly
Fat from an animal not slaughtered the Islamic way	Haram	Not slaughtered correctly (see the scholarly view: some schools accept it after chemical change)
Pork fat	Haram	Pork
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 & MalikiFrom plants, from synthesis, or from a properly slaughtered animal, it is Halal. Where glycerol of pork origin has been industrially changed into a new substance (istihala), these two schools accept it — the position Sh. Assim al-Hakeem voices above.

Depends on source

Shafi'i & HanbaliThey apply the same rule about the source, but do not accept that processing makes a pork origin acceptable again, so it stays impermissible.

Depends on source

Certification bodies

IFANCA / Dept. of Islamic Development Malaysia / HMC (certifiers)Require verification of the glycerol source before certifying.JAKIM — Halal Malaysia Portal ↗HFA FAQ ↗

Verify source

Fatwa councils, scholars and other sources

Mustakshif Shariah BoardDoubtful when the source isn't labelled — which is the common case.Mustakshif ↗

Doubtful

Plant / synthetic sourceMade from vegetable oils or from petroleum, it is Halal.HalalSpy ↗

Permissible

Sh. Assim al-HakeemGlycerine, like gelatine, is a point of dispute. Some scholars look to the animal source; others hold it "totally permissible", because producing glycerine involves a vigorous process that completely changes the material's physical and chemical make-up — so even if a forbidden source was used, it becomes a new, Halal substance.YouTube — Assim al-Hakeem ↗

Leans permissible

Only views with a published source are listed. Our app shows E422 as Mushbooh unless the label or the maker settles the source.

Where you meet it

Chewing gum, cake icing, soft sweets, toothpaste.

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 E422 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 E422 Halal?

E422 Glycerol (glycerine) is doubtful. It is produced from plant oils, from animal fat, or synthetically, and the source is not declared.

How do I know if the E422 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.

Products we checked that contain E422

Lambertz Nürnberger Lebkuchen Tradition 500 g · Mushbooh

Related additives

E431 Polyoxyethylene stearate · Doubtful
E432 Polysorbate 20 · Doubtful
E433 Polysorbate 80 · Doubtful

See all E-numbers →

Read this in Turkish: E422 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.