Is Sugar Alcohol Halal? [What You Should Know]

Modified carbohydrates are called sugar alcohols. They are produced primarily from sugar and starch and are found naturally in plants.

You might notice ingredients like sorbitol or maltitol, two different types of sugar alcohol, listed on the ingredients list of sugar-free candy.

Is Sugar Alcohol Halal?

Sugar alcohol is halal because it doesn’t contain “ethanol,” which is what we usually refer to as alcohol. Sugar alcohol that is present in food is regarded as halal because it does not result in intoxication.

READ NEXT: Is Soy Sauce Halal?

Fatwa on Sugar Alcohol

“In terms of information at our disposal, sugar alcohols are permissible for Halal consumption. The said alcohols occur naturally in plants. Some of them are extracted from plants e.g. sorbitol from corn syrup and mannitol from seaweed, but they are mostly manufactured from sugars and starches. Maltitol, xylitol, and sorbitol are all sugar alcohols.” Shafiq Jakhura (Mufti)
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Benefits of Sugar Alcohol

Fewer calories
Easier blood sugar management
Less dental risk

Fewer carbs

Despite being safer than sugar, it is best to occasionally consume products containing sugar alcohol.

Patients with diabetes may benefit from sugar alcohol as an alternative.

Although sugar alcohols may slightly affect your blood sugar levels, they are generally safe to include as part of a balanced diet.

Read more about Sugar Alcohol: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-to-know-about-sugar-alcohols/

What is Sugar Alcohol?

Sugar alcohol isn’t sugar or alcohol at all. The chemical structure of sugar alcohols is similar to that of sugar, which makes them a type of carbohydrate.

Some common sugar alcohols:

Arabitol
Isomalt

Mannitol
Erythritol
Isomannitol

Ribitol
Glycol Lactitol
Sorbitol

Glycerol (glycerine)
Maltitol
Xylitol

Do Sugar Alcohols contain ALCOHOL?

In contrast to alcoholic beverages such as beer or wine, sugar alcohols are not produced by fermentation.

Sugar Alcohols are not made with alcohol. However, since all compounds in this class share a hydroxyl group they all belong to the chemical class alcohol.

Is Sugar Alcohol Allowed In Islam?

Prophet of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “If a large amount of something can cause drunkenness, any little amount of it is forbidden.” [An-Nasaa’i, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and Al-Albaani]

According to reliable sources, the sugar alcohol is not intoxicating. Consequently, adding it to any food does not make that food illegal. Hence sugar alcohol is halal.

Difference Between Sugar Alcohol And Sugar?

Sugar alcohols are bulking agents and sweeteners.

They are a healthier alternative to sugar because they have fewer calories. This is because they do not cause blood sugar spikes and require little to no insulin for digestion.

Due to their popularity among diabetics, they are also becoming more well-known among the general public.

FAQ

Does sugar alcohol contain alcohol?

Despite having alcohol in its name, sugar alcohol doesn’t actually contain ethanol.

Is sugar alcohol the same as drinking alcohol?

Alcoholic beverages don’t share the same chemical structure as sugar alcohol. Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is missing from sugar alcohol.

Is alcohol in sweets haram?

It is forbidden to use any amount of ethanol as well as its byproducts and derivatives, in food products.

Can sugar alcohol get you drunk?

Although they share some similarities with ethanol, sugar alcohols do not get you drunk.

Are sugar alcohols safe?

Although sugar alcohols may slightly affect your blood sugar levels, they are generally safe to include as part of a balanced diet.

Final Thoughts

It’s best to only occasionally consume sugar-alcohol products. We found out hadith and several Islamic rulings (fatwa) in favor of sugar alcohol.

It’s safe to say that sugar alcohol is halal.

And Allah Knows Best.