Carmine in medicines

This resource on carmine is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public). Healthcare professionals may also find this resource useful when supporting people with gathering and understanding information about their medicine(s).

It highlights the issues of carmine use in medicines that you should be aware of. There is a table to help you understand if carmine is halāl or harām according to each of the four Sunni schools of thought.

Table Of Contents
  1. What is carmine?
  2. How carmine is used in medicines
  3. How the use of carmine in medicines affects the Muslim community
  4. Is carmine halāl or harām?
  5. What is transformation (istiḥālah)?
  6. Halāl alternatives and substitutes
  7. How do I find out if a medicine contains carmine?
  8. Summary
  9. References and further reading

What is carmine?

Carmine is a red-crimson dye. It is extracted from dried crushed beetles. Carmine is sourced from cochineal beetles (Dactylopius coccus orCochinea). 1 2 Carmine or dyes that are derived from insects may also be be referred to on labels as:

  • E120
  • Natural red 4
  • Crimson lake
  • CI 75470
  • Cochineal extract
  • Cochineal
  • Carminic acid .3 4

Carmine should not be confused with indigo carmine and indigo carmine lake. These are blue synthetic dyes and are considered permissible.5

Cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) on the leaf of an Opunitie (Opuntia), Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.

Derived from cochineal beetles

How carmine is used in medicines

Carmine can be used as a colouring agent in medicines to give the medicine a red or pink colour.6

How the use of carmine in medicines affects the Muslim community

The Muslim community needs to be aware that carmine is insect derived.

The majority of Islamic scholars and halāl-certifying bodies consider carmine to be harām due to its insect origin (which is considered repulsive), with different views regarding legal purity (ṭahārah) and transformation (istiḥālah). For further information on purity and transformation, see sections on ‘Is carmine halāl or harām?’ and ‘What is transformation (istiḥālah)?’.

It is important for the Muslim community to:

  1. Check if your medicine contains carmine sourced from insects.

To find out this information, see section on How do I find out if a medicine contains carmine? You can also speak to your local pharmacist for advice and support.

Is carmine halāl or harām?

The table below summarises the ruling of carmine, legal purity (ṭahārah) and transformation (istiḥālah) according to the four Sunni schools7:

ḤanafīMālikīShāfiʿīḤanbalī
Ruling on carmine ❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically.		❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically.		❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically.		❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically.
Ruling on carmine purity (ṭahārah)Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally pure (ṭāhir). However, you cannot consume it because it is considered repulsive.Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally pure (ṭāhir). However, you cannot consume it because it is considered repulsive.Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally impure (najis) and repulsive.Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally pure (ṭāhir). However, you cannot consume it because it is considered repulsive.
Ruling on transformation (istiḥālah) Some Ḥanafī scholars recognize istiḥālah I.e. if carmine undergoes a complete transformation, it may become permissible. The extent of transformation in carmine is contested, and most scholars do not widely accept its permissibility.

For further information on transformation (istiḥālah) see section on what is transformation (istiḥālah)? 		Mālikīs do not consider transformation (istiḥālah) sufficient to purify the substance.Shāfiʿīs do not accept transformation (istiḥālah) as a valid means of purification in this case.Ḥanbalīs do not consider transformation (istiḥālah) sufficient to purify the substance.

In summary, carmine (which is derived from dead insects), is considered harām to consume and legally impure (najis) according to the Shāfiʿī school of thought.

A substance derived from a legally impure (najis) source is generally harām unless it undergoes complete transformation (istiḥālah). Some Ḥanafī scholars recognize transformation (istiḥālah) i.e. if carmine undergoes a complete transformation, it may become permissible. However, the extent of transformation in carmine is contested, and majority Islamic scholars do not widely accept its permissibility. For further information on istiḥālah see section on what is transformation (istiḥālah)?.

What is transformation (istiḥālah)?

Transformation (istiḥālah)

Istiḥālah is the complete chemical transformation of a legally impure (najis) substance into a completely new substance that is considered legally pure (ṭāhir). The latter substance no longer retains the chemical properties of its former state (i.e. there has been a change of the original in form, colour, smell, taste, nature, effect, name, use, properties and is irreversible). The substance can undergo this chemical change through scientific or natural means.8 An example of istiḥālah includes turning wine into vinegar.9

For more detailed information on istiḥālah, see our e-book on ‘Islamic rulings on the halāl and harām in medicine and food’.

Please note that manufacturers may not be able to provide sufficient information needed for Islamic scholars to determine if istiḥālah (transformation) has occurred. We would recommend you speak to your trusted Islamic scholar to see if they already have an opinion or criteria on the matter of istiḥālah.

Halāl alternatives and substitutes

If you are seeking halāl products, look for halāl-certified, plant-based, or synthetic alternatives (where available and possible). Alternative colourants include plant-based or synthetic red colourants e.g.

  • Beetroot extract
  • Red radish, or
  • Synthetic dyes.

Note: most halāl-certification bodies do not approve carmine in food, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals. Carmine is often excluded from halāl-certified products.

How do I find out if a medicine contains carmine?

You can check if a medicine contains carmine using the relevant product patient information leaflet (PIL) or summary of product characteristics (SPC) which is available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website. You may also find our resource on ‘How to find out if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’ useful. If you are still unsure if your medicine contains carmine, speak to your local healthcare professional such as your local pharmacist.

It is important to remember that even if a medicine contains a harām ingredient or excipient, it does not always mean it is prohibited to take. If you find out a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources, then see our guide on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’. The guide includes the conditions of when it is acceptable to take a medicine that contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources. It may also help you make informed decisions on the next steps in discussions with your healthcare professional. If you are still not sure if it is permissible to take your medicine, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines).


Please continue to take your medicine(s) as prescribed.
Do not stop taking your medicine(s), change your medicine(s), or change the way you take your medicine(s) without discussing this with the healthcare professional who prescribed it for you.

Summary

  • Majority Islamic scholars and halāl-certifying bodies consider carmine harām due to its insect origin and impurity
  • Ḥanafī scholars debate whether it undergoes transformation (istiḥālah); however, there is no consensus on its permissibility
  • You can check if a medicine you are taking contains carmine using the PIL or SPC. If you are unsure, then speak to your local pharmacist
  • If you are unsure if your medicine is permissible to take, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines)
  • If you are seeking halāl products, look for halāl-certified, plant-based, or synthetic alternatives (where available and possible).

References and further reading

  1. Villaño, D., García-Viguera, C. and Mena, P. (2016). Colors: Health Effects. [online] ScienceDirect. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780123849472001902. ↩︎
  2. Gras, C. and Müller-Maatsch, J. (2024). The ‘carmine problem’ and potential alternatives. Elsevier eBooks, pp.465–506. Accessed 02.02.2025 from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cochineal . ↩︎
  3. Ramesh, M. and Muthuraman, A. (2018). Chapter 1 – Flavoring and Coloring Agents: Health Risks and Potential Problems. [online] ScienceDirect. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128115183000016. ↩︎
  4. European Parliament (2013). Parliamentary question | E120 colouring (Cochineal, Carmine, Carminic acid) | E-007471/2013 | European Parliament. [online] www.europarl.europa.eu. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-7-2013-007471_EN.html. ↩︎
  5.  Ristea, M.-E., & Zarnescu, O. (2023). Indigo Carmine: Between Necessity and Concern. Journal of Xenobiotics, 13(3), 509-528. https://doi.org/10.3390/jox13030033 ↩︎
  6. Drugs.com. Carmine (Inactive Ingredient). [online] Available at: https://www.drugs.com/inactive/carmine-199.html. ↩︎
  7. Islamic Perspective on Carmine by Shaykh Dr Rafaqat Rashid ↩︎
  8.  Siddiqi, Nasrullah. (2020). Comparative Study of Istihalah Shariah and Chemical Changes. WHS 2020. 89-94. Accessed 27.1.2025 from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354339446_Comparative_Study_of_Istihalah_Shariah_And_Chemical_Changes ↩︎
  9. Jamaludin, Mohammad & Ramli, Mohd Anuar & Hashim, D.M. & Ab Rahman, Suhaimi. (2012). Fiqh Istihalah: Integration of Science and Islamic Law. Revelation and Science. 2. 49-55. Accessed 27.1.2025 from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2014957/ ↩︎

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