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.
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.
Enter an E number or ingredient and find out if it is halal, vegan, or contains animal products. Takes seconds.
Try our E Number Checker free, here on this site →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.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
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?
Thank you
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.
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
govt. should compell all the manufacturers to do so.
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.
Ban in your homes it will be automatically disappear from market when no demand no supply simple rule.
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