glossary of halal ingredients home > middle eastern recipes > glossary > halal INDEX:  A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W | X | Y | Z Food labels can be confusing. So here are some of commonly used ingredients which have been identified as halal. For more information, please download the recently updated paper, "Guidelines for the Preparation of Halal Food and Goods for the Muslim Consumers," very generously contributed by the esteemed Dr. Ahmad Robin Wahab. Acetic Acid Ammonium Chloride Ammonium Sulfate Antioxidants - Chemical compounds used to protect certain food components from being destroyed or lost through oxidation. Aspartame - A sweetener. Ascorbic Acid - Also known as Vitamin C, its source is plant, usually citrus. RETURN TO INDEX Benzoate/Benzoic Acid - A preservative. Biotin - A member of the B complex vitamins. BHA - An antioxidant, preservative. BHT - An antioxidant, preservative. RETURN TO INDEX Calcium Carbonate Calcium Sulfate Carrageenan Citric Acid - Sources are generally citrus plants, such as orange, lemon and lime. Cobalamine - Synthetically prepared Vitamin B12. Cocoa Butter Corn Starch Corn Syrup RETURN TO INDEX Dextrin/Dextrose - An emulsifying, sizing, and thickening agent. Dicalcium Phosphate RETURN TO INDEX EDTA Ergocalciferol Ergosterol RETURN TO INDEX Ferrous Sulfate - Iron. Fiber - Dietary roughage from plant sources. Fructose - Fruit sugar. Fungal Protease Enzyme RETURN TO INDEX Glucose Gluten - Protein found in wheat and rye. Gum Acacia RETURN TO INDEX Hydrogenated oil - Vegetable oil which has been hydrogenated so it will remain solid at room temperature. Hydrolized Vegetable Protein RETURN TO INDEX Iodine - A nutrient commonly added to salt. RETURN TO INDEX RETURN TO INDEX Kizbara - Coriander RETURN TO INDEX Leavening Lecithin - Emulsifier of fat. In the USA, sources are mainly soybean and egg yolk. Lipids - Essential fatty acids found in fish, plant and animals. If source is animal, it is suspect. RETURN TO INDEX Malt - A type of fermented grain. Malto Dextrin Molasses - Syrup obtained in sugar refinement process. Monocalcium Phosphate Mono Saccharides Mono Sodium Glutamate - Commonly referred to as MSG, it is used for flavor enhancement. RETURN TO INDEX Nitrates/Nitrites Nonfat Dry Milk RETURN TO INDEX Olive Oil - Made by crushing the olives and extracting the oil. Olive oil is graded according to acidity and processing method. If possible, always use extra virgin or fine virgin grades. Oxalic Acid - Should be considered suspect. RETURN TO INDEX PABA - A food supplement. Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Pectin -A gelatinous substance extracted from fruits. Phosphoric Acid Potassium Benzoate Potassium Bromate Potassium Citrate Propionate Propionic acid - A preservative. RETURN TO INDEX Qatar - Sugar syrup used in pastries. RETURN TO INDEX Riboflavin - One of the B complex vitamins. The source is usually synthetic. RETURN TO INDEX Saccharine Salt Sodium Benzoate - See "Benzoic Acid". Samna - Clarified butter. Semolina or Smeed - Made from the starchy part of hard wheat. It comes in coarse, medium or fine grain. Sesame - The seeds grow in pods and have a nutty, sweet flavor. Before using, toast in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly. Shouraba - Soup. Soy Protein Soybean Oil Sumac - Ground dried berries from the sumac tree. Adds a pleasantly acidic taste to spice blends. Sucrose RETURN TO INDEX Tapioca - Used for thickening. Thiamin - One of the B complex vitamins. Tricalcium Phosphate RETURN TO INDEX RETURN TO INDEX Vegetable shortening - When label states "Pure Vegetable Shortening" or "100% Vegetable Shortening" the source is plant and therefore halal. Vinegar Vitamin A - If source are plant and synthetic, it is halal. Vitamin C - See "Ascorbic Acid". Vitamin D - Natural sources are yeast and fish liver oil. Also produced synthetically. Vitamin E - Rich halal sources of Vitamin E are vegetable oils. When source is synthetic, it is also halal. When source is animal, it is suspected. RETURN TO INDEX RETURN TO INDEX RETURN TO INDEX Yeast - Microscopic, unicellular, fungal plant used for fermentation process and in leavening baking bread. RETURN TO INDEX RETURN TO INDEX home > middle eastern recipes > glossary > halal copyright © 1999-2008, christina m k al-sudairy. all rights reserved.