natural vanilla extract

I thought the rule was everything is halal until proven haram?

 

In general, avoid ice-creams, biscuits, cakes, chocolates etc. which contain vanilla. By default assume that these use alcohol (unless specifically and clearly stated otherwise). Some of these items may just say natural flavour (without singling vanilla).

The golden rule is "if in slightest doubt, then avoid"

 

As Salāmu ʿAlaykum,

Natural flavour is often Mushbūh (doubtful). In the case of natural vanilla extract, 99.9% of the time it is Harām as it contains ethanol as the solvent for the flavouring. Artificial vanilla flavour (vanillin) on the other hand is halāl. This doesn't mean all artificial flavours are halāl though. Also, what you must also consider whether the milk solids are contaminated with harām. A suitable for vegetarian or kosher sign would indicate vegetarian processing aids were used in separation.

In summary, a halāl, vegetarian, or kosher sign will tell you a product doesn't contain animal ingredients (unless otherwise explicitly stated, such as the case of fish or beef gelatin). The presence of natural or artificial flavours (except for vanillin) means that the product is mushbūh. The only way to clear the doubt is to email the manufacturer of the product and ask whether alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl) is used as a processing aid, hidden ingredient, or as a solvent for their flavour. If they say "We do not use ethanol as a solvent in our Flavors" then the doubt is cleared.

 

natural vanilla extract contains a minimum of 35% alcohol and 100g of vanilla beans per litre as it contains alcohol so is this haraam?

people eat products where natural vanilla extract is in the ingredients like the mars ingredients below

Ingredients: Sugar, Glucose Syrup (Sources include Wheat), Milk Solids, Vegetable Fat, Cocoa Butter, CocoaMass, Barley Malt Extract, Cocoa Powder, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Salt , Egg White, Natural Flavour (Vanilla Extract).