FatwaFederal TerritoriesFood & Halal
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-817: HUKUM MAKAN PERWARNA DARIPADA SERANGGA (COCHINEAL) DALAM PRODUK MAKANAN DAN MINUMAN
Is it permissible to consume food and drink colouring derived from the cochineal insect?
Short answer
Using colouring obtained from the cochineal insect in food and drink is not permitted.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Food & Halal
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Using colouring obtained from the cochineal insect in food and drink is not permitted. This follows the majority view of the Shafi'i, Hanafi and Hanbali schools, which prohibit eating insects because they fall under the category of repulsive things (al-khabaith), with the exception of locusts. The Maliki school differs, as it holds that eating insects is permissible.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Penggunaan bahan pewarna yang diperolehi daripada serangga kumbang (cochineal) bagi tujuan makanan mahupun minuman adalah tidak dibenarkan berdasarkan pandangan jumhur fuqaha yang mengharamkan makan serangga disebabkan kategori jijik
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-817: HUKUM MAKAN PERWARNA DARIPADA SERANGGA (COCHINEAL) DALAM PRODUK MAKANAN DAN MINUMAN”, 21 December 2023. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/5812-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-817-hukum-makan-perwarna-daripada-serangga-cochineal-dalam-produk-makanan-dan-minuman. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-cochineal-insect-food-colouring/