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Typical source

Glucose (plant)

Plain-language explanation

E420, commonly known as Sorbitol, is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and moisture-retaining agent in various sugar-free candies, baked goods, and cosmetics. It is naturally found in fruits like apples and pears, but for commercial food production, it is primarily manufactured through the industrial hydrogenation of glucose derived from plant sources such as corn or wheat. Because it is overwhelmingly sourced from plant-based materials, major halal certification bodies like JAKIM, MUI, MUIS, ESMA, and HFA universally consider it Halal. While it is theoretically possible to produce glucose from non-halal sources, this is exceptionally rare in the food industry, so E420 is generally accepted as Halal without requiring a specific certification. Consumers can safely consume products containing this ingredient, though checking for a halal label on the final product is always a good practice to ensure the entire manufacturing process is compliant.