Is E160c halal?

What is E160c?

Paprika extract is a red-orange colour made from ground sweet pepper pods. The colour is extracted with approved solvents such as acetone, hexane, ethanol or carbon dioxide, which are then removed. The main pigments are capsanthin and capsorubin.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

It comes from a vegetable and is generally treated as halal. Ethanol is one of the permitted extraction solvents, but EU rules set strict residue limits. Water-dispersible versions may contain emulsifiers such as polysorbates, which can be plant- or animal-derived. In meat products, the meat is the thing to check, not the paprika colour.

How to check the label

The colour itself needs no special check. In sausages and other meat products, confirm the meat is halal. A halal certificate on the product also covers any emulsifiers used to blend the colour.

Where you'll find it

• sausages
• snack seasonings
• sauces
• processed cheese
• ready meals

Good to know

• In 2015 EFSA set an acceptable daily intake of 24 mg paprika extract per kg of body weight per day, equal to 1.7 mg carotenoids.
• EU specifications set a maximum level for capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers hot.
• It may also appear on labels as paprika oleoresin, capsanthin or capsorubin.

Similar additives

• E100 Curcumin Generally halal
• E153 Vegetable carbon Generally halal
• E160b Annatto 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 paprika extract (E 160c) (2015)

Frequently asked questions