Is E904 halal?
E904 is haram (forbidden). E904 — Shellac — is a food additive. This ruling follows from its raw material: E904 is obtained from an animal source that the halal standard we apply does not permit. Only a version of E904 produced from permitted, halal-slaughtered animals and certified as such would change that — look for a halal mark on the specific product.
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 E904?
Shellac. Glazing agent
Where does E904 come from?
E904 is animal-derived. Whether it is halal therefore depends on the source animal and how it was slaughtered, which the ingredient list never states — check the product's certification.
Sourcing and scholarly views on E904
Not every authority reads an additive like E904 the same way. Certification bodies applying the OIC/SMIIC standard require the animal source itself to be permitted and halal-slaughtered — the stricter reading this site follows. The European Council for Fatwa and Research, in a ruling relayed by Islamweb, holds that additives so deeply transformed that the original substance disappears (istihala) become pure and permissible. Readers who follow that lenient position may reach a different conclusion than the verdict shown here.
Shellac divides scholars along a fine line: it is not the lac insect's body but its resin secretion, and secretions of living creatures are not carrion. Scholars who reason from beeswax and honey — permitted secretions — allow shellac, and several certification bodies certify food-grade shellac glazes on that basis. The stricter reading applied here notes the Hanafi objection to insect derivatives and the practical impossibility of separating resin from insect residue during harvesting.
- 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)
| Is E904 vegetarian? | Not 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. |
E904 is identified internationally as Codex/INS 904.
EU approval: Yes.
Vegetarian status: Not suitable for vegetarians.
Products containing E904
Products in our database that list E904 among their ingredients:
- Sensation Fruit Chocolat Noir Framboise & Cranberry — Lindt (Haram)
How this verdict was reached
E904 is derived from an animal source that the halal rules do not permit.
Maintained and reviewed by the Halal & Healthy team. About Halal & Healthy · Read the full methodology
What this is based on
The classification of E904 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 E904 halal?
E904 is haram (forbidden). E904 — Shellac — is a food additive. This ruling follows from its raw material: E904 is obtained from an animal source that the halal standard we apply does not permit. Only a version of E904 produced from permitted, halal-slaughtered animals and certified as such would change that — look for a halal mark on the specific product.
Where does E904 come from?
E904 is animal-derived. Whether it is halal therefore depends on the source animal and how it was slaughtered, which the ingredient list never states — check the product's certification.
Do all scholars agree on E904?
Not every authority reads an additive like E904 the same way. Certification bodies applying the OIC/SMIIC standard require the animal source itself to be permitted and halal-slaughtered — the stricter reading this site follows. The European Council for Fatwa and Research, in a ruling relayed by Islamweb, holds that additives so deeply transformed that the original substance disappears (istihala) become pure and permissible. Readers who follow that lenient position may reach a different conclusion than the verdict shown here. Shellac divides scholars along a fine line: it is not the lac insect's body but its resin secretion, and secretions of living creatures are not carrion. Scholars who reason from beeswax and honey — permitted secretions — allow shellac, and several certification bodies certify food-grade shellac glazes on that basis. The stricter reading applied here notes the Hanafi objection to insect derivatives and the practical impossibility of separating resin from insect residue during harvesting.
How does E904 relate to Codex/INS numbering and regional food-safety rules?
E904 is identified internationally as Codex/INS 904. EU approval: Yes. Vegetarian status: Not suitable for vegetarians.
How this verdict was reached
E904 is derived from an animal source that the halal rules do not permit.
Which additives are related to E904?
Also animal-derived: E910, E634, E633, E632; Same E-number series — Glazing agents, gases and sweeteners: E903, E905, E902, E906
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