Is E102 halal?

What is E102?

Tartrazine is a synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye. It is made from petrochemical building blocks through a series of chemical reactions, then purified and dried as a sodium salt. It dissolves easily in water, is cheap and stays stable, so it has been used widely.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

Tartrazine is made entirely by chemical synthesis, with no animal, insect or alcohol-based raw materials, so it is generally treated as halal. The only practical catch is in ready-made liquid colour blends, which can contain carriers such as glycerol (E422). Carriers are not always named on the label.

How to check the label

No special check is needed for the dye itself. If a product uses a colour blend and you want certainty about carriers, a halal certificate on the finished product is the simplest assurance.

Where you'll find it

• sweets
• flavoured drinks
• desserts
• snack seasonings
• sauces

Good to know

• In the EU and UK, foods and drinks containing it must carry the warning “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”.
• EFSA's 2009 re-evaluation kept the acceptable daily intake at 7.5 mg per kg of body weight per day.
• EFSA noted that tartrazine can cause intolerance reactions in a small number of sensitive people, even at intakes within the ADI.

Similar additives

• E110 Sunset Yellow FCF Generally halal
• E124 Ponceau 4R Generally halal
• E129 Allura Red AC Generally halal
• E133 Brilliant Blue FCF Generally halal
• E200 Sorbic acid Generally halal
• E202 Potassium sorbate Generally halal

See all 89 E-numbers in the halal checker

This list describes where additives usually come from. It isn't a religious ruling, and manufacturers can change their sources. Last reviewed: 14 October 2026.

Sources

1. EFSA re-evaluation of tartrazine (E 102) (2009)
2. UK Food Standards Agency: food additives

Frequently asked questions