Is E516 halal?
E516 is generally considered halal. E516 — Calcium sulphate — is used in food as sequestrant, stabiliser. The assessment is straightforward here: E516 is produced from plant or mineral raw materials, a category Islamic dietary law accepts in food. That holds regardless of brand, so a product is not made doubtful by containing E516 alone.
Automated classification, not a religious ruling. No scholar or certification body has reviewed this assessment — always check the product's own halal certification.
What is E516?
Calcium sulphate. Firming agent
Where does E516 come from?
E516 is obtained from plant, mineral or synthetic sources, so it raises no animal-derivation concern on its own.
Sourcing and scholarly views on E516
There is no significant scholarly disagreement over additives like E516. Substances of plant, mineral or synthetic origin are permissible across the schools of Islamic law, under the principle that foods are permitted unless specifically prohibited — the position the European Council for Fatwa and Research applies to plant-derived and synthetic E-numbers. The practical question scholars do raise is cross-contamination during manufacturing, which is a matter for product certification rather than for the additive itself.
- Islamweb fatwa 286777 — the European Council for Fatwa and Research's four-category ruling on E-additives (in Arabic)
- Islamweb fatwa 83073 — ingredients on foods with code numbers: purity and transformation principles
- Islamweb fatwa 219985 — E-numbered preservatives: verification before prohibition (in Arabic)
| Function | Sequestrant, Stabiliser |
|---|---|
| Is E516 vegetarian? | Suitable for vegetarians |
| Approved in the EU | Yes |
| Food-safety regulator | U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food safety only — not a halal authority. |
E516 is identified internationally as Codex/INS 516.
EU approval: Yes.
Vegetarian status: Suitable for vegetarians.
Products containing E516
Products in our database that list E516 among their ingredients:
- Peanut Butter Crunch — Fleischer, Selbst gemacht, The Wholesome Bar, Uberti (Halal)
- Authentic Tofu — Cauldron (Halal)
- Garlic & Ginger Marinated Tofu — Cauldron Express (Halal)
How this verdict was reached
E516 is made from plant or mineral raw materials, with no animal input.
Maintained and reviewed by the Halal & Healthy team. About Halal & Healthy · Read the full methodology
What this is based on
The classification of E516 rests on public records rather than opinion: the Open Food Facts taxonomy supplies the origin signal and the technological function, the UK Food Standards Agency register confirms authorisation status, and Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 defines which raw materials it may legally be made from.
Frequently asked questions
Is E516 halal?
E516 is generally considered halal. E516 — Calcium sulphate — is used in food as sequestrant, stabiliser. The assessment is straightforward here: E516 is produced from plant or mineral raw materials, a category Islamic dietary law accepts in food. That holds regardless of brand, so a product is not made doubtful by containing E516 alone.
Where does E516 come from?
E516 is obtained from plant, mineral or synthetic sources, so it raises no animal-derivation concern on its own.
Do all scholars agree on E516?
There is no significant scholarly disagreement over additives like E516. Substances of plant, mineral or synthetic origin are permissible across the schools of Islamic law, under the principle that foods are permitted unless specifically prohibited — the position the European Council for Fatwa and Research applies to plant-derived and synthetic E-numbers. The practical question scholars do raise is cross-contamination during manufacturing, which is a matter for product certification rather than for the additive itself.
How does E516 relate to Codex/INS numbering and regional food-safety rules?
E516 is identified internationally as Codex/INS 516. EU approval: Yes. Vegetarian status: Suitable for vegetarians.
How this verdict was reached
E516 is made from plant or mineral raw materials, with no animal input.
Which additives are related to E516?
Same function — Sequestrant: E576, E452, E451, E450; Same E-number series — Acidity regulators and anti-caking agents: E515, E517, E514, E518
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