Home > Ask Our Experts > Does E631 Use Extracted Pig's Fat or Sardine Oil?

Does E631 Use Extracted Pig's Fat or Sardine Oil?

By: Rachel Newcombe - Updated: 21 Aug 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
E Number E631 Pigs Fish Sardines Animals

Q.

Can you tell me about the source of flavour additive E631 which is used in some potato chips/crisps. I cannot tell from anything I've read whether it comes from pig's fat, another animal - or indeed sardine oil? It's important to many people to avoid products extracted from pigs.

(M.K, 2 July 2009)

A.

Thanks for sending in your question. The E number known as E631 (or sodium inosinate) is an additive that is used in many products to act as a flavour enhancer and make foods taste good. As well as enhancing other flavours, it’s used frequently in products such as potato crisps as it also helps to reduce the amount of salt needed (and reducing salt intake has become quite a big health concern in recent years, with manufacturers vying to get their levels of salt in products down).

Sodium inosinate comes from inosinic acid, an acid that is naturally found in a variety of animals, such as pigs or fish, such as sardines. In some cases it can also be produced from bacterially fermenting some sugars.

As far as commercial use goes, most manufacturers do source their E631 from animals and fish, whilst a few may use the fermentation method. The tricky bit is if you want to specifically avoid E631 that comes from pork, as most products will not say on their ingredients list exactly where it comes from.

You could try writing to manufacturers to ask exactly where it comes from. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a definitive answer, but it’s always worth a try and, you never know, some might be receptive and willing to give you the facts. However, if it’s an issue that really concerns you and you don’t want to find yourself unknowingly consuming food with E631 sourced from pigs, probably the best move is to avoid the products completely.

It’s hard work sometimes trying to avoid these pesky E numbers, especially with so many hidden in the foods and drinks we enjoy, but if you really do need or want to avoid certain numbers, scouring the ingredients lists before you buy products is the best way of ensuring you’re not getting more than you bargained for.

We realise the importance for many people of avoiding products extracted from pigs, which is why we’ve published articles such as this one on - E numbers not suitable for a Halal diet - if you’re looking to avoid other E numbers with links to pork products, then you may find this to be a useful read.

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Hyhyghyg
Alihasna - 21-Aug-23 @ 6:44 AM
400
Pun - 3-Jul-23 @ 3:11 PM
Hii
Pandu - 29-Jan-23 @ 3:57 AM
then what's the use of GREEN DOT on the pack ...... MNCs r making fool to the consumers by not clarifying the ingredients used . Food Departments should take action against these Co's & also guidelines/ law should b implemented for all products where codes r used to hide these Non Vegetarian ingredients in the pack.
NN - 10-Jun-21 @ 9:39 AM
In India, there is a law already existing, that any food products having any non-vegetarian ingredients has to have a Red Dot in a square (whatever it is called technically). This logo system (Green dot for Vegetarian and Red dot for non-vegetarian food products) becomes easier for the consumers (even if they are illiterate) to know what he/she is buying/consuming. Why these MNCs are not adhering and why the food regulatory bodies is not taking actions?
tans - 1-Jun-21 @ 9:05 AM
Sorry there are some typo errors in my earliest coment. Please ignore them, those things happened due auto fill function of my phone. Thank you
Dev - 10-Apr-21 @ 2:12 PM
It not about Hindus or Muslim, it's about for are we getting fooled by these multinational companies. Surprisingly E635 is banned in the country of their origin. E635 is basically toxic substance which we must avoid. If govt can't take any action let us through them out of our holi nation by boycotting these products. I take pledge right away not substance with E635 shall enter my house.Be it a ready to eat food or medicine.
Dev - 10-Apr-21 @ 2:06 PM
STOP FIGHTING! And yall know coffee and toast is the best!
william afton - 12-Jan-21 @ 11:48 AM
they are right! We are the killers!Liz your ice cream is not as good as my cookies though!
chris afton - 12-Jan-21 @ 11:44 AM
hello there us aftons kill not some delicious food but they are not as delicious as my ice cream
circus baby - 12-Jan-21 @ 11:39 AM
I think any ingredients containing pig fats should be labelled with the prefix “PF” (Meaning Pig Fat) rather than an “E”. This way the product manufacturers would be considered as honest and the Byers can make an informed choice when buying the products.
Janooni - 14-Oct-20 @ 3:46 PM
Why is that the authorities like fssai r quite n not taking any action on such manufacturing companies? They also get commission I guess!
Monu - 30-Aug-20 @ 5:20 PM
please avoid all products which is not suitable in our relegious
lion - 19-Aug-20 @ 10:07 AM
How many products one should look for. Do you know that cows food is not grass and grains. It contains all kinds of waste meat?
Pete - 9-Aug-20 @ 3:06 PM
This kind of food is very dangerous for Muslims and I request to all Muslims plz! avoid the E type of all things which use in foods.jazak ALLAH
asim - 11-Jun-20 @ 8:00 PM
1.Avoid doubtful foods. 2. Help to establish halal company by religious Muslims, as all Muslims know the company by name and can purchase halal food from there. If any religious Muslim help a trust to do it for Allah then it will be able to make easy 3. Eat halal to save Imaan and Aamal.
Asif - 8-Jun-20 @ 1:23 PM
As we are muslims our islam said any thing which is not clear and creat dougt in yoir mind left it. So we all should boycot all like these items why should we give to our childerns. We are redponsible.
Assi - 28-May-20 @ 11:35 AM
I think any ingredients containing pig fats should be labelled with the prefix “PF” (Meaning Pig Fat) rather than an “E”. This way the product manufacturers would be considered as honest and the Byers can make an informed choice when buying the products.
Sabit - 16-Feb-20 @ 10:02 AM
I think any ingredients containing pig fats should be labelled with the prefix “PF” (Meaning Pig Fat) rather than an “E”. This way the product manufacturers would be considered as honest and the Byers can make an informed choice when buying the products.
Kamila razvi - 12-Oct-19 @ 1:12 PM
These is more dengeras please stop it...quick
Santhu - 28-Sep-19 @ 3:23 PM
Disodium inosinate is generally produced from meat, including fish and pigs. Though it is normally a non-vegetarian product, it also may be produced from tapioca starch without any animal products involved in the production. The producer can provide information on the origin and it is in some cases labeled as "vegetarian" in ingredients lists when produced from plant sources.[4][5]
Sunny - 18-Jun-19 @ 11:02 AM
I think any ingredients containing pig fats should be labelled with the prefix “PF” (Meaning Pig Fat) rather than an “E”. This way the product manufacturers would be considered as honest and the Byers can make an informed choice when buying the products.
Shahjad - 13-Jun-19 @ 11:03 AM
These E codes are available as an added flavour in different lays products such as E631 & E160c found in lays wavy also E635 found in lays yogurt and herbs flavour please avoid to eat these products and before consuming these type of products first see ingredients and verify if there is not haram ingredient in it
Nomi - 5-Jun-19 @ 10:05 AM
I think it's in doubt that E product's should not be used in any condition unless we comes to know that this is halal.We all Muslim's should byecot such product.Thanks
zebi - 7-Apr-19 @ 6:57 PM
As a muslim we should not consume these products because they are doubtous .Sources should be properly labelled and govt. should compell all the manufacturers to do so.
Isba - 2-Apr-19 @ 3:40 PM
Is fair n lovely haram or halal pleaseeeeee tell me? :((
Jimmy - 31-Mar-19 @ 6:10 PM
It's Right Government take Seriously Action Against some company .who sale product non Halal .with the Code . E631 .Been a Muslim we Also stop buying these stuff. From super markets
Farry - 29-Mar-19 @ 6:39 PM
Thank you everyone for your comments. I think any ingredients containing pig fats should be labelled with the prefix “PF” (Meaning Pig Fat) rather than an “E”. This way the product manufacturers would be considered as honest and the Byers can make an informed choice when buying the products.
Klab - 26-Feb-19 @ 9:57 PM
I request to government pls band this item
Yousuf - 14-Feb-19 @ 6:03 AM
Certainly we can avoid some products that we come to know containing e631.unknowingly we still r not aware of some products containing e631 we consume.so it should be the responsibility of govt. To restrict such products that r against to certain communities or religions like our islam.
Musa - 28-Jan-19 @ 4:18 PM
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