Verdict Scholars differ
Use this as an educational first check. For products that matter to you, follow an official halal certification or a scholar you trust.
Code: E120. Also called: Cochineal, Carminic acid, Natural Red 4, Crimson Lake.
What it is
Carmine, or cochineal (E120), is a vivid red colouring made from the crushed bodies of the cochineal insect. It's one of the oldest natural red dyes and is used to colour food, drinks and cosmetics.
Why it matters for halal
The question isn't slaughter — it's whether a colour extracted from an insect is permissible to eat at all. Schools of thought treat insects differently, so the same additive can be judged halal by one scholar and avoided by another.
The ruling
Because carmine comes from an insect rather than a slaughtered animal, some scholars consider it permissible, while others regard insects (other than locusts) as not for eating and so avoid it. There is no single agreed ruling, which is exactly why a scanner should surface it as doubtful rather than pretend to a definitive answer. Many halal certifiers avoid E120 and prefer plant-based reds.
What to do when you're shopping
If avoiding doubtful additives matters to you, treat E120 / carmine / cochineal as mushbooh and look for products coloured with plant-based alternatives (e.g. beetroot red, E163 anthocyanins). Follow the ruling of a scholar or certifier you trust.
Commonly found in
- Red sweets
- Strawberry yoghurts
- Fruit drinks
- Some sauces
- Lipstick