Is E920 (L-cysteine) halal?

It depends on the source. It can be made from plants, by fermentation or synthetically, or from animal fat or tissue, and the label rarely says which. Bread improver that can be made from duck feathers or human hair, or by fermentation.

What E920 is used for

L-cysteine is used as a flour treatment. On Australian labels it usually appears by its function and number, for example "flour treatment (920)", without the letter E.

How to tell if it's halal

Look for a halal certifier's logo, or a source named on the label, such as "emulsifier (471, from vegetable oil)". If there's neither, email the manufacturer and ask where it comes from.

Check a label with E920

Paste the full ingredient list into our label checker. It flags E920 along with every other additive that needs a second look.