Is carmine (E120) halal?
Scholars disagree. Carmine, also called cochineal or E120, is a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects. Authorities in the UAE, following the Gulf standard, treat it as permitted. Many muftis, especially in the Hanafi school, say eating insects is not allowed, so they avoid it.
Sources checked October 23, 2026. Muzzmi describes the standards and where views differ. It does not give religious rulings.
Where it is used
Carmine gives a pink or red colour to yogurts, sweets, drinks, ice cream, some sausages and lipstick. It may be listed as carmine, cochineal, carminic acid, crimson lake, natural red 4 or E120.
The two views
Permitted: Sharjah Municipality said in 2018 that E120 is a natural substance allowed in food under the Gulf standard GSO 23/1998, and that food sold in the UAE is halal.
Not permitted: the Darul Iftaa of Jaamia Madinatul Uloom says carmine should not be eaten, because most scholars do not allow eating insects (citing Quran 7:157), though external use such as shampoo is fine. Many Hanafi muftis hold this view. Muzzmi does not rule on it: follow your own scholar.
How to avoid it if you want to
Check for the names above, or look for colours from beetroot, paprika (E160c) or anthocyanins (E163) instead. Muzzmi's free label scanner flags carmine on a barcode.