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Generally halal
E104, also known as Quinoline Yellow, is a synthetic food colouring and is generally considered halal because it is not normally derived from animals.
Quinoline Yellow is a synthetic greenish-yellow food colouring. Chemically it is a water-soluble mixture of the disulfonated (mainly), monosulfonated and trisulfonated forms of 2-(2-quinolyl)indan-1,3-dione, listed under Colour Index number 47005 (Food Yellow 13). It is manufactured industrially rather than extracted from any plant, animal or insect, and is used to give foods, drinks and medicines a yellow shade. It should not be confused with E102 (Tartrazine), commonly called Yellow 5, which is a different yellow colour.
Made by chemical synthesis — the sulfonation of a quinoline-derived dye built from aromatic (historically coal-tar / petroleum) precursors. The standard commercial process uses no animal-derived raw materials, which is why it is assessed as synthetic in origin.
E104 is generally classified as halal at the ingredient level because its standard origin is synthetic and no prohibited carrier or animal-derived processing material is normally involved. However, this does not mean the finished product is halal-certified: formulations and supporting materials can differ, so the complete product and its certification must still be checked before consuming it.
It may be found in — this does not mean every product below contains it.
Quinoline YellowE104Colour (E104)Food Yellow 13CI 47005INS number: 104
Ingredient-level guidance is not halal certification. In Singapore, verify the complete product through the official MUIS HalalSG register where a certified version is expected, and contact the manufacturer when a colour's source or its carrier/solvent is unclear. We have not found an official MUIS ruling that names E104 specifically, so we classify it by its standard synthetic origin, not by any certification claim.
Check MUIS HalalSGSources: EFSA, EUR-Lex, FAO/WHO, Wikipedia, MUIS · Last reviewed: July 2026 · This guidance is not certification.
Halal does not automatically mean healthy, and a health concern does not automatically make an ingredient haram.
Halal does not automatically mean healthy, and a health concern does not automatically make an ingredient haram. Quinoline Yellow was one of the colours in the 2007 University of Southampton study, which linked a mixture of certain colours plus a preservative to increased hyperactivity in some children. Following its 2009 re-evaluation, EFSA lowered the Acceptable Daily Intake for E104 from 10 to 0.5 mg per kg of body weight per day. These are food-safety assessments by regulators and are separate from its halal status.
Permitted as a food colour in the EU and UK within set limits, where foods containing it must carry the advisory statement 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' (one of the six 'Southampton' colours). It is not authorised as a food colour in the United States — there it is permitted only in drugs and cosmetics, as D&C Yellow No. 10.
E104 (Quinoline Yellow) is generally considered halal at the ingredient level because its standard origin is synthetic, not animal. This does not by itself make a finished product halal-certified.
No. It is a synthetic colour manufactured by chemical processing, with no animal-derived raw material in the standard process.
It is a synthetic mixture of the disulfonated (mainly), monosulfonated and trisulfonated forms of 2-(2-quinolyl)indan-1,3-dione, listed as Colour Index 47005. It is built from aromatic precursors, not from any plant, animal or insect.
It is a greenish-yellow food colouring used to add or standardise colour in sweets, soft drinks, desserts and some medicines.
It may be found in confectionery, soft drinks, ice lollies, some smoked fish coatings and certain medicines or supplements. 'May contain' is not the same as 'always contains'.
Regulators permit E104 within limits. After its 2009 re-evaluation, EFSA lowered the acceptable daily intake to 0.5 mg per kg of body weight per day, and EU/UK foods that contain it must warn that it 'may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children'. It is not authorised as a food colour in the US. Safety is a health question, separate from halal status.
It is not banned in the EU or UK, where it is allowed with a warning label, but it is not authorised as a food colour in the United States. Any safety restriction is separate from its halal status.
No. A product is not automatically halal just because it contains a generally-halal colour. Certification looks at the whole product and process — check the full product and its halal certification.
Look for 'Quinoline Yellow', 'E104', 'Colour (E104)', 'Food Yellow 13' or 'CI 47005'.
Ingredient guidance is not certification. Check the complete product on the MUIS HalalSG register, and contact the manufacturer if a colour's source or carrier is unclear.
Humble Halal methodology: we classify additives by their common origin, not by any specific product. A generally-halal ingredient does not make a finished product halal-certified. This page is general guidance, not certification or religious/legal advice — always verify the complete product. Last reviewed July 2026.