Is E306 halal?

What is E306?

Tocopherol-rich extract is natural vitamin E taken from vegetable oils. It is made by vacuum steam distillation of by-products from edible oil refining, often from soybean or sunflower oil, giving a reddish, oily concentrate of tocopherols.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

It is concentrated from edible vegetable oils, so there is no animal source and no alcohol in production, and it is generally treated as halal. The EU specification defines it as a product of vegetable oils only. Vitamin E supplements are a different case, because their capsules are often made of gelatin.

How to check the label

No special check is needed for E306 in food. For vitamin E supplements, check whether the capsule shell is gelatin and, if so, its source.

Where you'll find it

• vegetable oils
• margarine and spreads
• salad dressings
• baked goods

Good to know

• EU rules define it as a product of vacuum steam distillation of edible vegetable oil products.
• EFSA's 2015 re-evaluation did not set an ADI but concluded that tocopherols (E306–E309) are not of safety concern at the levels used in food.
• The related additives E307, E308 and E309 are synthetic alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol.

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
• E163 Anthocyanins 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 tocopherols (E 306–309) (2015)

Frequently asked questions