Is E967 (Xylitol) Halal?
Generally halal
E967 (Xylitol) is a sugar alcohol made from plant fibre (such as birch or corn), with no animal origin, so it is generally considered halal.
What is E967?
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a tooth-friendly, lower-calorie sweetener, especially in sugar-free gum and mints. It is produced from plant materials such as birch wood or corn cobs.
Produced by processing and hydrogenating xylose from plant fibre (e.g. birch, corn cobs). No animal-derived raw materials.
Why is it generally halal?
Xylitol is made from plant fibre with no animal or intoxicating-alcohol component, so it is generally classified as halal. As always, the finished product still needs its own verification.
Commonly found in
It may be found in — this does not mean every product below contains it.
- Sugar-free gum and mints
- Tooth-friendly sweets
- Diabetic and low-sugar foods
- Toothpaste and oral-care products
How it appears on labels
XylitolE967Birch sugarSweetener (E967)INS number: 967
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 guidance is not certification. Verify the finished product on the MUIS HalalSG register or with the manufacturer.
Check MUIS HalalSGSources: EFSA, FAO/WHO, MUIS · Last reviewed: July 2026 · This guidance is not certification.
Frequently asked questions
Is E967 (xylitol) halal?
Yes — it is a sugar alcohol made from plant fibre with no animal origin, so it is generally considered halal. It is not an intoxicating alcohol.
Is xylitol from animals?
No. It is produced from plant materials such as birch wood or corn cobs.
What names should I look for?
'Xylitol', 'E967' or 'Birch sugar'.
Related ingredients
Sources & methodology
- Re-evaluation of xylitol (E 967) as a food additive — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) · Plant-fibre origin
- General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) Online Database — Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) · Approved uses and INS number
- Halal Certification — HalalSG — Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) · Singapore halal verification process
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.