Is E163 halal?

What is E163?

Anthocyanins are the natural red, purple and blue pigments of many fruits and vegetables. For food use they are extracted from sources such as grape skins, black carrots, red cabbage or berries, using water, acidified or sulphited water, or alcohol, and then concentrated or dried.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

The pigments come from plants, so the list treats them as generally halal. One catch is worth knowing: grape-skin extracts are often made from skins left over after pressing grapes for juice or wine, and the EU specification notes that ethanol may be present from the soaking process. If that matters to you, a halal certificate settles it.

How to check the label

If the label says “grape skin extract” and you want certainty about alcohol, look for a halal certificate from a recognised body or ask the manufacturer which fruit or vegetable was used and how it was extracted.

Where you'll find it

• fruit drinks
• jams
• sweets
• yoghurts
• desserts

Good to know

• EFSA's 2013 re-evaluation could not set a numerical ADI; most data were on grape skin and blackcurrant extracts, which it considered unlikely to be a safety concern.
• Anthocyanins change colour with acidity: red in acidic foods, and more purple or blue in less acidic ones.
• The EU specification allows extraction with water, carbon dioxide, methanol or ethanol.

Similar additives

• E100 Curcumin Generally halal
• E153 Vegetable carbon Generally halal
• E160b Annatto Generally halal
• E160c Paprika extract Generally halal
• E162 Beetroot red 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 anthocyanins (E 163) (2013)

Frequently asked questions