The permissibility (halal status) of carmine, also known as cochineal extract or E120, is a matter of debate among scholars. Mostly scholars hold the opinion that carmine is not permissible (haram) to consume based on the following reasons:
- Insects as impure: According to the majority of scholars, insects are considered impure in Islamic dietary laws. The impurity of insects is based on specific hadiths that classify them as impure creatures. Therefore, consuming insects, including carmine derived from cochineal insects, is considered impermissible.
- Lack of transformation: Scholars who consider carmine as haram argue that the processing and transformation of the insect into a colorant do not change its fundamental impurity. They maintain that the original impure nature of the source remains, even if it undergoes various chemical processes.
- General prohibition: Some scholars take a more cautious approach by considering all insects as forbidden for consumption unless there is specific evidence to prove their permissibility. Since there is no clear evidence that explicitly allows the consumption of insects, they view carmine as haram by default.
May Allah guide us all in making choices that are in accordance with our faith and grant us wisdom in matters of halal consumption.