Is E129 halal?

What is E129?

Allura Red AC is a synthetic red azo dye made from petrochemical-derived aromatic compounds. After the chemical coupling step it is purified and sold as a sodium salt, usually a dark red powder that dissolves readily in water.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

It is a fully synthetic dye with no animal, insect or alcohol-based raw materials, so the colour itself is generally treated as halal. A red colour on the label does not mean insects are involved; the insect-based red is carmine (E120), which is a different additive.

How to check the label

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

Where you'll find it

• sweets
• soft drinks
• desserts
• cake decorations
• snack foods

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 mg per kg of body weight per day.
• In the US the same dye is called FD&C Red No. 40, often shortened to Red 40.

Similar additives

• E102 Tartrazine Generally halal
• E110 Sunset Yellow FCF Generally halal
• E124 Ponceau 4R 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 Allura Red AC (E 129) (2009)
2. UK Food Standards Agency: food additives

Frequently asked questions