Is E104 (Quinoline Yellow) Halal?
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.
What is E104?
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.
Why is it generally halal?
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.
Commonly found in
It may be found in — this does not mean every product below contains it.
- Sweets and confectionery
- Soft drinks and squashes
- Ice lollies and desserts
- Smoked fish coatings
- Some medicines and supplements
How it appears on labels
Quinoline YellowE104Colour (E104)Food Yellow 13CI 47005INS number: 104
How to verify a product in Singapore
- Ingredient-level guidance is not halal certification — check the complete product, not just this ingredient.
- Look for recognised halal certification, and check the finished product on the official MUIS HalalSG register.
- When the source or processing aids are unclear, contact the manufacturer.
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.
Health & regulatory information
Halal does not automatically mean healthy, and a health concern does not automatically make an ingredient haram.
Health & safety
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.
Regulatory 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.
Frequently asked questions
Is E104 halal or haram?
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.
Is Quinoline Yellow made from animals?
No. It is a synthetic colour manufactured by chemical processing, with no animal-derived raw material in the standard process.
What is Quinoline Yellow made of?
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.
What is E104 used for?
It is a greenish-yellow food colouring used to add or standardise colour in sweets, soft drinks, desserts and some medicines.
What foods may contain E104?
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'.
Is E104 (Quinoline Yellow) safe?
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.
Is E104 banned?
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.
Does E104 make the finished product halal?
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.
What names should I look for on a label?
Look for 'Quinoline Yellow', 'E104', 'Colour (E104)', 'Food Yellow 13' or 'CI 47005'.
How can I verify this ingredient in Singapore?
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.
Related ingredients
Sources & methodology
- Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of Quinoline Yellow (E 104) as a food additive (EFSA Journal 2009;7(11):1329) — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) · Synthetic composition, permitted uses and the lowered ADI of 0.5 mg/kg bw/day
- Annex V, Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — mandatory advisory statement for certain colours — European Union (EUR-Lex) · 'May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children' label warning
- General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) Online Database — Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) · INS 104 and approved uses
- Quinoline Yellow WS — composition, Colour Index number and regulatory status — Wikipedia · Chemical composition (CI 47005) and US food-use status overview
- Halal Certification — HalalSG — Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) · Singapore verification is at the product level, not the ingredient level
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.