E100, E110, E120, E 140, E141, E153, E210, E213, E214, E216, E234, E252,E270, E280, E325, E326, E327, E334, E335, E336, E337, E422, E430, E431, E432, E433, E434, E435, E436, E440, E470, E471, E472, E473, E474, E475,E476, E477, E478, E481, E482, E483, E491, E492, E493, E494, E495, E542,E570, E572, E631, E635, E904.

These E- INGREDIENTS are present in a majority of products of multinational firms including, but not limited to –

TOOTH PASTE, SHAVING CREAM, CHEWING GUM, CHOCOLATE, SWEETS, BISCUITS, CORN FLAKES, TOFFEES, CANNED FOODS, FRUIT TINS

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every body that is nourished with haraam things, the Fire is more befitting for it.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (4519).  

The Muslim should beware of eating that which is it not permissible for him to eat, and he should seek out halaal food, even if it is more expensive than other food, and even if obtaining it involves more effort. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said:  

If the Muslim is certain or thinks it most like that any pork, lard (pig fat), or ground up pig bones has gotten into his food, medicine, toothpaste and so on, then it is not permissible for him to eat it or drink it, or apply it to his skin. Whatever he is uncertain about, he should abstain from it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.” End quote. 

Does the Muslim have to ask and find out before eating any ingredients if he is uncertain about whether there is anything haraam in them? 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said: If he is uncertain about something, he should leave it. Elsewhere (22/285) they said: He should ask for details because it is obligatory to beware of eating haraam things. 

Is it essential to read the list of ingredients written on food, to make sure that there are no pork or alcohol related products? 

They relied: 

Yes, that is essential. End quote

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked: 

A man ate pork without realizing, then another man came to him after he had finished eating and told him that it was pork, and as we know, pork is haraam for Muslims. What should he do? 

They replied: 

He does not have to do anything about that, and there is no sin on him, because he did not know that it was pork. But he has to be careful and be cautious in the future. End quote. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (22/282, 283)