Is E476 halal?

What is E476?

PGPR is an emulsifier made from castor oil and glycerol. Fatty acids from castor oil are linked into chains and then joined to polyglycerol, which is made by heating glycerol. It is used in small amounts, mainly to help melted chocolate flow more easily.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

The fatty part comes from castor oil, a plant oil, so the main ingredient raises no halal question. The polyglycerol is made from glycerol, which in general can come from animal or plant fat. In the EU it must meet the E422 standard, which since 2023 means vegetable origin.

How to check the label

For products made in the EU, no special check is needed. For products from elsewhere, a halal certificate or a “vegetable origin” note confirms that the glycerol part is plant-based.

Where you'll find it

• chocolate
• chocolate-coated snacks
• ice cream
• low-fat spreads

Good to know

• In 2017 EFSA raised the ADI for PGPR from 7.5 to 25 mg per kg body weight per day; a 2022 follow-up found intake stayed below it.
• The EU specification requires the castor oil used for PGPR to be free of ricin, the toxic protein found in castor beans.
• In EU product data, PGPR is labelled mainly on chocolate and ice cream products.

Similar additives

• Emulsifiers Depends on the source
• E322 Lecithins Generally halal
• E414 Gum arabic (acacia gum) Generally halal
• E433 Polysorbate 80 Depends on the source
• E470a Salts of fatty acids Depends on the source
• E471 Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids Depends on the source

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 PGPR E476 (2017)
2. EFSA follow-up on PGPR E476 (2022)
3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1329 (E422, E475, E476 specifications)

Frequently asked questions