Carmine in medicines

This information resource can help you understand how carmine is used in medicines, the concerns around its use in medicines for the Muslim community, and whether its use in medicines is halāl (permissible) or harām (prohibited) in Islam.

This resource is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public). All healthcare professionals (HCPs), their teams and anyone involved in delivering care and support (across all care settings) to Muslim individuals, may also find it useful. It can be used to support person-centred and informed decision-making around taking medicines that align with an individual’s Islamic values and beliefs. 

Table Of Contents
  1. Carmine
  2. How carmine is used in medicines
  3. Why this is important
  4. Checking medicine information
  5. Is carmine halāl or harām?
  6. What is istihāla (transformation)?
  7. Halāl alternatives
  8. Summary
  9. References and further reading

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 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. Indigo carmine and indigo carmine lake are blue synthetic dyes and are considered permissible.5

Derived from cochineal beetles

How carmine is used in medicines

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

Why this is important

For the Muslim community

For the Muslim community, it is important to check if your medicine contains carmine and if it is Islamically permissible to take/use. To find out if a medicine contains carmine, see the section on ‘Checking medicine information’.

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 and not palatable for consumption), with general agreement regarding its legal purity (ṭāhir) and transformation (istihāla). For further information on purity, transformation and the permissibility of carmine, see the sections on ‘Is carmine halāl or harām?’ and ‘What is istihāla (transformation)?’.

For HCPs

For HCPs and anyone involved in delivering care and support, it is important to:

  • Understand which ingredients and/or excipients in medicines may be a concern for practising Muslims and why. For further information, see our resources under ‘Ingredients and excipients in medicines‘
  • Have open discussions with individuals about their personal values or beliefs that may relate to their care and support where possible – e.g. some individuals may wish to avoid certain ingredients/excipients in medicines due to religious beliefs, others may not be as practising or have the same beliefs, so it is important to ask
  • Discuss ideas, concerns and expectations – e.g. during consultations, you may be asked to help individuals to understand whether certain ingredients/excipients are present in their medicine(s), its source, and whether it is likely to be considered permissible in Islam/suitable for a halāl diet
    • To find out how to check if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients, see the section on ‘Checking medicine information’
    • For further information on the conditions of when it is acceptable for a practising Muslim individual to take/use a medicine that contains harām ingredients and/or excipients, is derived from harām sources, or where there is cross-contamination with harām sources, see our resource on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients’.
  • Respect and support individuals in making informed decisions about their treatment
  • Understand that you may be asked to explore alternative formulations that meet the individual’s religious requirements (where available), alternative pharmaceutical companies that make the medicine without a particular excipient/ingredient (where possible), or alternative treatment options for the condition (where clinically appropriate)

Please take/use your medicine(s) as directed/prescribed by your healthcare professional. 

If you are seeking information about halāl status or alternatives, do not stop, delay, change, or change the way you take/use your medicine(s) without discussing this first with the healthcare professional who prescribed/supplied it to you. 

Always consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions and before making any decisions about your treatment. 

Checking medicine information

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 and/or excipients’ useful. If you are still unsure if a medicine contains carmine, speak to your local pharmacist as they are the experts in medicines. 

Please note that information about transformation is not available in the SPC or PIL. Manufacturers of medicines may not be able to provide sufficient information needed for Islamic scholars to determine if istihāla (transformation) has occurred. Therefore, we would recommend you speak to your trusted Islamic scholar to see if they already have an opinion or criteria on the matter of istihāla.

It is important to remember that even if you find out a medicine contains possible harām ingredients and/or excipients, is derived from harām sources, or that there is cross-contamination with harām sources, this does not always mean it is prohibited to take/use. For further information, see our resource on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients and/or excipients’. It includes the conditions of when it is acceptable to take/use a medicine in these circumstances. It can also be used to support person-centred discussions between individuals and HCPs, and help make informed decisions around taking medicines that are both clinically appropriate and align with an individual’s Islamic values and beliefs.

Is carmine halāl or harām?

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

ḤanafīMālikīShāfiʿīḤanbalī
Ruling on carmine ❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically due to purity.		❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically due to purity.		❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically due to purity.		❌Harām to consume.

✅ Halāl to apply topically due to purity.
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 and unpalatable for consumption.Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally pure (ṭāhir). The majority opinion of the Māliki school permits consumption of most insects.Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally pure (ṭāhir). However, you cannot consume it because it is considered repulsive and unpalatable for consumption.Carmine is generally considered a substance that is legally pure (ṭāhir). However, you cannot consume it because it is considered repulsive and unpalatable for consumption.
Ruling on transformation (istihāla) Some Ḥanafī scholars recognize istihāla 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 see section on what is istiḥālah (transformation) ? 		Not applicable as majority Mālikīs consider it permissible and pure. Shāfiʿīs are less likely to consider transformation (istihāla) sufficient to transform the substance.Ḥanbalīs are less likely to consider transformation (istihāla) sufficient to transform the substance.

In summary, carmine (which is derived from dead insects) is considered harām to consume by majority schools except the Mālikī school. However, it is considered legally pure (ṭāhir) according to the majority opinion.

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

If you are still unsure if a medicine is permissible to take/use, speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines).

What is istihāla (transformation)?

Istihāla

Istihāla 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 substance 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 istihāla includes turning wine into vinegar.9

For more detailed information on istihāla, 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 istihāla (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 istihāla.

Halāl alternatives

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

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
  • Synthetic dyes.

Summary

  • Carmine is a red-crimson dye extracted from dried crushed beetles. It is used as a colouring agent in medicines to give the medicine a red or pink colour
  • For the Muslim community, it is important to check if your medicine contains carmine, and if it is Islamically permissible to take/use 
    • You can check if a medicine contains carmine using the PIL or SPC, alternatively you can speak to your local pharmacist
    • If you are seeking information about halāl status or alternatives – do not stop, delay, change, or change the way you take/use your medicine(s) without discussing this first with the healthcare professional who prescribed/supplied it to you
    • Always consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions and before making any decisions about your treatment.
  • For HCPs and anyone involved in delivering care and support to the Muslim community, it is important to have open discussions with individuals about their personal values or beliefs that may relate to their care and support where possible
  • The majority of Islamic scholars and halāl-certifying bodies consider carmine harām even if they consider it pure
    • Some scholars’ debate whether it undergoes transformation (istihāla); however, majority agree that there is no transformation and hence it remains harām
    • You should follow the guidance of your school of thought (madhhab). If you have further queries about the permissibility of medicines, consult a qualified local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally someone 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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