E621 Halal Or Haram? A complete Guide

E621 is a food code of  Monosodium glutamate(MSG).It is widely used in packaged foods ,noodles , Canned foods, soups , seasonings and instant foods etc. Basically, it is a food additive used to trigger umami flavour.

         MSG is found naturally in cheese, tomato and mushrooms . E621 is a modified version of natural MSG and can be produced through fermentation of plants like sugarcane, sugar beets, cassava and corn.

Muslims around the world are worried about halal status of E621. Because of a rumour that it is being fermented on animal source. Its usage is also banned in many countries, so this leads to The question “is E621 Halal or Haram?”

The answer is, it is halal as MSG is obtained from vegetarian sources. No involvement of animal based ingredients clear all doubts about its Mushbooh status. The aim of this article is to know about the permissibility of E621. So, let’s explore this topic more in detail.

E621 indicates Monosodium glutamate which is written as MSG. It is also known as Chinese salt or Ajinomoto in common language. It is white coloured crystalline powder with no smell and gets easily dissolved in water.

First of all, a plant is chosen from which sucrose or starch is extracted. Extracted material is then converted into glucose. The glucose solution is added in the fermentation tank and bacteria is added.

This bacteria feeds on glucose and produces glutamic acid as a by-product. The solution is filtered and neutralised  with sodium. And then, it is crystallised, concentrated and dried to final product, which we call MSG. In the making process, it is clearly obvious that there is no haram ingredient.

E621 or Monosodium glutamate has many advantages and  is used for many purposes in food:

1. E621 enhances the food flavour.
2. It triggers the savoury  umami taste found on our tongue.
3. It makes food delicious to the extent that  we keep wanting more and more.
4. It makes food enjoyable.
5. It is not costly. So , one can easily improve the taste of food.
6. It is a good option for those who want to reduce sodium intake.  Table salt( sodium chloride) is 40% sodium and MSG has 12% sodium.

Although, E621 is used in many foods but is not a safe option due to following reasons:

1. Due to 12% sodium content in MSG, it causes hypertension and heart problems , if consumed regularly.
2. Some people may also feel headache, burning sensation, increased heartbeat, nausea , weakness and chest pain within 30 minutes of consuming. These are short term reactions to MSG.
3. It causes digestive and skin problems in people who have MSG sensitivity syndrome.
4. It is banned in many countries due to health hazard effects.

Note: The Supreme court of Pakistan has banned use of MSG in foods since 2018.

Halal or haram status of E621 depends upon the factor where it has been cultured or fermented. If fermentation is done using plants it is halal. Otherwise it is not permissible for Muslims.

Besides, halal or haram status, it is not good for health. So anything not good for humans is  advised to avoid in religion Islam. 

E621 is halal and not banned in the UK. As, there are no animal ingredients used in the making process of MSG.

Halal certification is a necessary thing in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. there is no doubt of forbidden  or unlawful thing in this blessed land. So, food code e621 is halal in KSA.

 Pakistan is an Islamic and Muslim majority country. It is necessary for all companies in Pakistan to have halal certification. So, E621 or MSG sold in Pakistan is Halal.

Halal certification is done by GIMDES, the aim of which is to provide halal food to Muslims. In addition to its Halal status, MSG has been banned in Turkey since ages. So there is no food having MSG in Turkey.

Mufti Abdullah Patel is an Islamic scholar of Hanafi Fiqh. MSG, its making and ingredients are carefully reviewed by him. There are no haram ingredients in it. So E621 is also halal in the Hanafi Islamic school of thought.

Yes, it is halal in Shia Islam too due to being fermented on plants only.

This article was about E621’s halal or Haram status. After knowing about its source, ingredients ,making and non-participation of animals  , one can conclude that E621 or MSG is Halal. But at the same time , it is not good for Health. So, it should be avoided as taking care of health is a religious duty. The Prophet (s.a.w) said, ‘There are two gifts which many men are unmindful about – good health and leisure.’ (Bukhari).