The Halal Status of Vanilla and Vanilla Flavorings

Vanilla Extract Standards
Vanilla Extract is the only flavoring material with a USFDA standard of identity. It is included in the code of Federal Regulation.The more significant statement in the USFDA standard, which should be noted, require that the finished extract have no less than 35% ethyl alcohol and contains no less than one unit of vanilla bean per gallon. Anything less must be declared or labeled as vanilla flavorings.
Vanilla Extraction and Ice Cream Standard
Vanilla standards was developed and promulgated concurrent and in close relation with Ice Cream Standard.The labeling of Ice Cream is dependent on the type of flavoring used.
Category I:Vanilla Ice Cream contains only pure vanilla components and no artificial flavors.
Category II: Vanilla ice cream can be flavored with up to one ounce of synthetic vanillin per unit of vanilla extract. This is a natural and artificial product and must be labeled as Vanilla flavored Ice cream.
Category III:Ice cream contains predominantly or exclusively an artificial vanilla flavoring that includes primary synthetic vanillin. This product must be labeled Artificially Flavored or Artificial Vanilla.
VANILLA PRODUCTS
a. Vanilla Beans: Vanilla beans are identified as the properly cured and dried fruit-pods of the vanilla orchid in vanilla standard.
b.Vanilla Extracts and Vanilla Powders: The reminder of the standard is involved with describing in general terms how the extract is made and what other ingredients can be used. It also defines other products related to pure vanilla extract (what constitutes them and how they can be labeled).
b. Vanilla extract (extracted with alcohol).
c. Vanilla flavoring (extracted with alcohol)
d. Concentrated vanilla flavoring (extracted with alcohol)
e. Vanilla powder (no alcohol is used)
f. Vanilla-Vanillin extract (extracted with alcohol)
g. Vanilla-Vanillin flavoring (extracted with alcohol)
h. Vanilla-Vanillin powder (Vanillin may be obtained with or without alcohol)
There is no animal derived ingredients used in the products above.
VANILLA WITHOUT ALCOHOL
a. New Methods of Extractions: Modern methods of extraction are used such as supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (C02 Extract) and reverse osmosis for concentration. These methods produce useful products for industrial flavoring but they either fail to fit the regulatory requirements (alcohol extraction) for USFDA Standard products, and they are extremely expensive. These specialized products differ in solubility, flavor profile, and appearance but add to the list of natural vanilla flavoring available to food and beverages manufacturers. This product is halal.
b. Vanilla beans: Pure Vanilla beans are readily available for both food manufacturers for processed foods and common consumers for home bake products
c. Vanilla Flavor: A vanilla flavor may be in fact being non-alcoholic.
d. Vanilla Powder: This is a standard vanilla product. Vanilla powder is a mixture of ground vanilla beans or vanilla oleoresin or both with one or more of the following optional blending ingredients (a) Sugars, (b) dextrose, (c) Lactose, (d) Food Starch, (e) dried corn syrup, (f) Gum acacia. Vanilla sugar is different from vanilla powder with sugar. Vanilla Sugar made with sugar and vanilla extract is considered as Haram ingredient because of the alcohol content in the extract.
e. Vanilla-Vanillin Powder: This is the same, as vanilla powder but contains not more than one ounce of added vanillin. This is also a standard product. But this product is Halal only if added vanillin is obtained from vanilla bean without alcohol.
VANILLIN
Vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) a pleasant smelling aromatic compound occurs naturally in vanilla bean and also obtained from as by-product of pulp and paper industry by the oxidative break down of lignin. It may also be prepared by synthesis.
LIGNIN VANILLIN VANILLA BEAN VANILLIN
(vanilla bean flavor component)
C8H8O3 C8H8O3
Molecular weight: 152.16 Molecular weight: 152.16
HALAL STATUS OF VANILLIN:
Artificial or synthetic vanillin do not contain alcohol and it is also Halal or Kosher certified. It is a Halal ingredient.
Artificial or synthetic vanillin is made with all Halal ingredients and Halal process without alcohol. Lignin, used to make the artificial vanillin, when derived from botanical product is Halal. Methane when used as a solvent is considered as a Halal solvent.
ISLAMIC SCHOLARS' VIEW ON THIS TOPIC:
Some Islamic Scholars considered a food product Not Halal if it is made with a flavor containing alcohol as a solvent. But others considered it Halal because they said the small or large quantity (less than 2%) of the product does not intoxicate a person. Please consult your Sheikh or Imam on this topic.
(excerpts taken from Canadian Halal, INC)