[Q 712] Mono & Diglycerides (E471) Halal?

Question

Mufti saab hope you are well. There is a product in bread that apparently there is pork and other fatty acids involved it is called mono-and diglycerides and also E471 also contains this. How much truth is in this and will this be halal

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Mono and Diglycerides (E471) are emulsifiers used in various food products, especially bread, etc. They are generally obtained from vegetable fats; however, in some cases, animal fat is also used to obtain them.

Therefore, if E471 is obtained from vegetable fats, its use is permissible and halal. However, if it is obtained from animal fat, then it is necessary for that animal to be Islamically permissible (halal) and to have been slaughtered according to Islamic law (shar’i method). If there is no definite information regarding its source, it will remain doubtful. And a doubtful thing cannot be declared haram; rather, according to the fatwa, it is permissible to consume, though it is better to avoid it.

And if it is determined through investigation that it has been obtained from pork fat, then its use will be haram. Similarly, if it is proven that it is obtained from an animal, its use can only be permissible if it is confirmed through investigation that the animal was halal and slaughtered according to Islamic law.

Answered by: Jahanzaib Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 24th August 2026