['Aalim Network QR] Emulsifiers

[sukaina panju <sukaina.panju@utoronto.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Thanks to Dr.Takim for providing the following answer. 

Salaams,

Zahir Panju
Moderator ABDG-A


QUESTION:
  
 Kindly provide answers to the following question. The reply to my questions
 should be based on the rulings of Ayatollah Syed Ali Seestani.
 Question) Recently on arrival to Geneva I came across a problem to a
 Emulsifier
 E471 used in many of the icecreams and breads.  It seems that it is derived
 from animals especially pigs and was told that it was haram to eat ice-creams
 or breads containing this E471.
 
 I would like to know if it halal or haram to eat items containing E471.  If
 haram I would like to know how it is different from gelatine which becomes
 halal after going chemical transformation.
 
 Also let me know if their are other such things I must take precaution
 against


ANSWER:
 
 The E471 is apparently a fatty acid stabilizer. From what I have been
 reliably told, it is not fat. Moreover, due to the process of istihala
 (transmutation whereby the original substance goes through a complete
 chemical change) we are allowed to consume products which are extracted from
 animals.
 
 Allah knows the best
 
 LIyakatali