Is E153 halal?

What is E153?

Vegetable carbon is a fine black powder made by carbonising plant material such as wood, cellulose residues, peat or coconut shells. The charcoal is milled, washed with acid, neutralised and dried to give an intense, insoluble black colour.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

It is charcoal made from plants only, so no animal material is involved and it is generally treated as halal. Do not confuse it with bone char, a charcoal made from animal bones that some sugar refiners use as a filter. Bone char is not E153.

How to check the label

No special check is needed for E153 itself, because the EU specification allows only plant material. A halal certificate covers the rest of the product.

Where you'll find it

• liquorice sweets
• black confectionery
• cake decorations

Good to know

• EFSA's 2012 re-evaluation set no ADI but found no safety concern at reported uses, provided residual PAHs are very low. It is essentially not absorbed by the gut.
• Also called vegetable black. The EU specification lists only plant sources such as wood, peat and coconut shells.

Similar additives

• E100 Curcumin Generally halal
• E160b Annatto Generally halal
• E160c Paprika extract Generally halal
• E162 Beetroot red Generally halal
• E163 Anthocyanins Generally halal
• E306 Tocopherol-rich extract (vitamin E) 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 vegetable carbon (E 153) (2012)

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