Is E640 halal?

What is E640?

Glycine is the simplest amino acid, found in most proteins and especially rich in gelatin and collagen. Industrially it is mostly made by chemical synthesis, for example from chloroacetic acid and ammonia. It can also be isolated from broken-down gelatin or other proteins.

Why it's marked “Depends on the source”

Synthetic glycine contains no animal material and raises no halal issue. Glycine isolated from gelatin depends on that gelatin, which is often made from pig skin or from cattle not slaughtered the halal way. The label does not say which method was used.

How to check the label

Look for a halal certificate from a recognised body or a vegan mark, or ask the manufacturer whether the glycine is synthetic. A plain “E640” or “glycine” on the label does not tell you the source.

Where you'll find it

• sweetened drinks
• soups
• sauces
• table-top sweeteners

Good to know

• In the EU, the number E640 covers glycine and its sodium salt, sodium glycinate.
• In the US, glycine may be used to mask the bitter aftertaste of saccharin in drinks, at up to 0.2% of the finished beverage.

Similar additives

• E627 Disodium guanylate Depends on the source
• E631 Disodium inosinate Depends on the source
• E635 Disodium 5′-ribonucleotides Depends on the source
• E621 Monosodium glutamate (MSG) Generally halal
• E160a Carotenes (beta-carotene) Depends on the source
• E304 Ascorbyl palmitate 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. EU additive specifications, Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 (E 640)
2. PubChem: glycine, methods of manufacturing
3. US 21 CFR 172.812, glycine

Frequently asked questions