E284 Boric acid — is it halal?

Ruling: Mashbuh (doubtful)

Description

Boric acid is made from natural borate ores and salt-lake brines by decomposition with mineral acids (c1), and also from borax (E285, c2); in the EU it is permitted only for sturgeon caviar. The dossier's own sources name no direct animal raw material; via borax (c2) the following are transferred from the E285 dossier (unverified for E284): fatty acids as antifoamants and flotation agents (c11)

Basis of the ruling

Boric acid is mineral: it is produced from borate ores and salt-lake brines by acid decomposition, and also from borax. Purification uses ethanol, methanol and other alcohols of unnamed source, as well as flotation agents and flocculants of undisclosed composition and leucine with gluconic acid of unnamed origin.

Names: Борная кислота · Boric acid · حمض البوريك

Also known as: E 284, E-284, Е284, INS 284, ортоборная кислота, boracic acid, orthoboric acid, Borofax, 硼酸, حمض البوريك, حمض الأورثوبوريك

Category: Preservatives

Regulatory source: EU 1333/2008

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