Is Calcium Alginate (E404) Halal?

MUIS lists E404 (Calcium Alginate) as halal. It is derived from plant material and its normal production involves no animal-derived ingredients. The status applies to the additive itself; the finished product still needs its other ingredients checked.

Calcium alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid. Its insolubility in water makes it ideal for forming gel skins on liquids in molecular gastronomy and for restructured foods.

• restructured foods (e.g. olives, fruit pearls)
• molecular gastronomy
• encapsulated flavours

• E404 on its own is not a reason to avoid a product.
• The finished product still needs its other ingredients checked — look for a halal certification logo (MUIS, JAKIM, MUI, HMC or similar) when in doubt.
• Halal status here follows the MUIS food additive listing; rulings can differ between certification bodies.

sodium alginate (E401), alginic acid (E400), agar (E406)

E404 (Calcium Alginate) is halal for Muslims according to the MUIS food additive listing. Calcium alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid.

Calcium alginate is the calcium salt of alginic acid. Its insolubility in water makes it ideal for forming gel skins on liquids in molecular gastronomy and for restructured foods.

E404 is commonly found in restructured foods (e.g. olives, fruit pearls), molecular gastronomy, and encapsulated flavours.