Carmine is a red pigment that is obtained by crushing the dried bodies of female cochineal beetles. Since insects are not permissible to consume, e120 or Carminic acid cannot be classified as Halal. However, Some scholars consider carmine to be permissible because it undergoes a transformative process; They argue that the final product, carmine, does not retain the characteristics of the original insect. However, it's upto your content whether you want to consume such product or not.
What is Carmine?
Carmine is a crimson red pigment derived from Cochineal, a “scale insect”, by crushing and boiling dried insects in water to extract the carminic acid and then treating the clear solution.
A popular natural food dye today, the deep red crimson colouring is also known by the following names: cochineal, carmine, colour (e120), carminic acid, and colour index (ci 75470) natural red 4 and crimson lake.
These are all names of this red food colouring, derived from the crushing of the females and their babies (nymphs) or cochineal scale beetle insect. They are killed by immersion in hot water, then dried by exposure to sunlight, steam or the heat of an oven and ground to a powder before going through a chemical process. It takes about 155 000 insects to make just one kilogram of cochineal. Cochineal is used to produce scarlet, orange and other red tints
It is used in a variety of food products such as:
Frozen processed meat and fish.
Soft drinks, fruit drinks energy drinks and powdered drinks.
Yoghurts, ice cream and dairy products.
Candy, syrups, fillings and chewing gums.
Canned fruits like cherries and jams.
Dehydrated and canned soups.
Sauces and seasonings.
Cosmetics, hair and skin care products, lipsticks, face powders, rogues and blushes.
Pharmaceuticals to colour pills, ointments, cough drops and vitamins. The labels on products do not specifically mention insects and resort to couching this in a more palatable term such as ‘natural colouring’.
A popular natural food dye today, the deep red crimson colouring is also known by the following names: cochineal, carmine, colour (e120), carminic acid, and colour index (ci 75470) natural red 4 and crimson lake.
These are all names of this red food colouring, derived from the crushing of the females and their babies (nymphs) or cochineal scale beetle insect. They are killed by immersion in hot water, then dried by exposure to sunlight, steam or the heat of an oven and ground to a powder before going through a chemical process. It takes about 155 000 insects to make just one kilogram of cochineal. Cochineal is used to produce scarlet, orange and other red tints
It is used in a variety of food products such as:
Frozen processed meat and fish.
Soft drinks, fruit drinks energy drinks and powdered drinks.
Yoghurts, ice cream and dairy products.
Candy, syrups, fillings and chewing gums.
Canned fruits like cherries and jams.
Dehydrated and canned soups.
Sauces and seasonings.
Cosmetics, hair and skin care products, lipsticks, face powders, rogues and blushes.
Pharmaceuticals to colour pills, ointments, cough drops and vitamins. The labels on products do not specifically mention insects and resort to couching this in a more palatable term such as ‘natural colouring’.
Opinion of Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (it's Haram)
According to majority of the Shari’ah scholars, the consumption of insects is not permitted and falls under the purview of the Quranic verse, ‘…He (Allah Ta’ala) permits pure substances for them and forbids filthy substances unto them.’ (Surah7 verse 157.)
Therefore it is impermissible to consume any products containing carmine. Also in cosmetic products e.g. lipstick, where there is a strong possibility of intake, its usage will not be permissible.
The external use of products containing carmine is permissible, e.g. shampoos etc.
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)
Therefore it is impermissible to consume any products containing carmine. Also in cosmetic products e.g. lipstick, where there is a strong possibility of intake, its usage will not be permissible.
The external use of products containing carmine is permissible, e.g. shampoos etc.
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)
Opinion of Shaykh al-Munajjid (it's Halal)
We have not been able to find out whether what you say is true about carmine and its being derived from female ants. If we assume that it is indeed the case, if the sweet is not harmful then there is nothing wrong with eating it, because of what was mentioned above about the haram substance being transformed into a different substance.
Opinions among different scholars
Islamic jurisprudence schools issue various edicts on the exact halal legal status of cochineal-derived additives which we’ll analyze in-depth here.
Hanafi Sunnis – This largest maddhab led by deobandi subcontinent scholars gives expansive leniency regarding synthesized colors. They permit ADI-approved E120 unconditionally based on it chemically transforming.
Shafi’i Sunnis – Dominant in Malaysia and Indonesia, they allow E120 from plants with dedicated halal procedures. But alcohol as extraction solvent absolutely prohibits permissibility.
Maliki Sunnis – North African centric rulings prohibit all insect derivatives as unlawful innovation (bid’a) violating the Prophetic Sunnah. But someMaghrebi judges make exception for scale bugs if scientifically verified pure.
Hanbali Sunnis – This strict Saudi & Qatar school bans insects yet conditionally allows certain chemical alterations like with medication. So some Wahhabi groups reject E120 while others require exhaustive lab verification it contains no insect particles.
Hanafi Sunnis – This largest maddhab led by deobandi subcontinent scholars gives expansive leniency regarding synthesized colors. They permit ADI-approved E120 unconditionally based on it chemically transforming.
Shafi’i Sunnis – Dominant in Malaysia and Indonesia, they allow E120 from plants with dedicated halal procedures. But alcohol as extraction solvent absolutely prohibits permissibility.
Maliki Sunnis – North African centric rulings prohibit all insect derivatives as unlawful innovation (bid’a) violating the Prophetic Sunnah. But someMaghrebi judges make exception for scale bugs if scientifically verified pure.
Hanbali Sunnis – This strict Saudi & Qatar school bans insects yet conditionally allows certain chemical alterations like with medication. So some Wahhabi groups reject E120 while others require exhaustive lab verification it contains no insect particles.
If this ingredient is as we found out extracted from cochineal beetle, which is dried before being ground, then it is unlawful to consume it because it is unlawful to eat insects according to the majority of scholars for they are abhorrent and the normal person is disgusted with them. Allaah Says (which means): describes the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) {…and prohibits for them the evil…}[Quran 7:157].
In addition, it is considered Maytah (dead creature). This is mentioned by Ibn Hazm may Allaah have mercy upon him in his Book Al-Muhallaa and the evidence for prohibition is the verse: Allaah Says (which means): {When we have died and have become dust…}[Quran 5:3].
There is yet another factor that makes it unlawful, it is the fact that at some point in its process of value factoring, it is treated with (intoxicating) alcohol. It is known that alcohol is impure according to the majority of scholars and it in unlawful to consume it or consume anything mixed to it.
So, there are two things that make this product unlawful first because it is made of insects which are unlawful in themselves and second because it is treated with alcohol.
In addition, it is considered Maytah (dead creature). This is mentioned by Ibn Hazm may Allaah have mercy upon him in his Book Al-Muhallaa and the evidence for prohibition is the verse: Allaah Says (which means): {When we have died and have become dust…}[Quran 5:3].
There is yet another factor that makes it unlawful, it is the fact that at some point in its process of value factoring, it is treated with (intoxicating) alcohol. It is known that alcohol is impure according to the majority of scholars and it in unlawful to consume it or consume anything mixed to it.
So, there are two things that make this product unlawful first because it is made of insects which are unlawful in themselves and second because it is treated with alcohol.