Vanilla extract (at least 35% alcohol by US standard)

Vanilla extract is, by US law, made with at least 35% alcohol, so the alcohol is part of what it is. halal.ua excludes any ingredient that contains alcohol, and Darul Fatwa counts alcohol as najis and forbids every intoxicant, even in a small amount, so it is Haram. Nothing clears this, because the alcohol is in the extract itself. Vanilla extract labeled alcohol-free or non-alcoholic is Halal.

Food	Cosmetics & personal care	Medicine
Haram	Haram	Medicine note

Concern

Alcohol

Intoxicants, alcohol added to food, alcohol that forms in fermented foods such as soy sauce, alcohol carriers, and alcohol that may have changed into another substance.

What clears it

Nothing can clear this, because the problem is the ingredient itself.

What our sources say

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · Purification from the Najas-Filth

Among what is considered najas-filthy are urine, feces, blood, puss, vomit, alcohol, and the maytah , including its bones and hair.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Certification Center "Halal" · Центр сертифікації «Халяль» (home page)

Сировина, що містить спирт (alcohol, ethanol, fermentation alcohol, grain alcohol, hooch, alcohol denat), або наркотичні та п'янкі речовини;

halal.ua's own English “Raw materials containing alcohol (alcohol, ethanol, fermentation alcohol, grain alcohol, hooch, alcohol denat), or narcotic and intoxicating substances;”

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · Drinks…

The important thing is that no Najas (filth) ingredient such as alcohol is used in the production of these soft drinks.

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Certification Center "Halal" · Алкоголь – «корень» зла и нечисти

То, что опьяняет в большом и в малом количестве является харамом

Translation “That which intoxicates in large and in small quantity is haram”

Article on the 2016-2017 site; no longer online. · Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Darulfatwa – Islamic High Council of Australia · تحريم الخمر

وأمّا القَولُ بنجاسَةِ الخمر فهو مذهب أكثر الأئمة منهم الأربعة مالك والشافعي وأحمد وأبو حنيفة فإذا أصابت ثوبًا أو بدنًا يجبُ تطهيره عند القيام للصلاة،

Translation “As for the position that khamr is najis, it is the view of most of the Imams, among them the four: Malik, al-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Abu Hanifah. So if it gets on a garment or on the body, it must be purified when standing for prayer,”

Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

Certification Center "Halal" · Алкоголь – «корень» зла и нечисти

Водка, ром, виски, коньяк, вино, ликер, шампанское, пиво, также наркотические вещества, как гашиш, опиум, героин, морфий, кокаин и другие – это нечисть шайтана.

Translation “Vodka, rum, whisky, cognac, wine, liqueur, champagne, beer, and also narcotic substances such as hashish, opium, heroin, morphine, cocaine and others are the filth of Satan.”

Article on the 2016-2017 site; no longer online. · Source page · archived copy · retrieved Sep 22, 2026

All sources →

Other sources: www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-169/subpart-B/section-169.175

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