Question Summary:
What is the ruling on vanilla extract and vanillin?

Question Detail:

When we see the word vanilla, vanillin and vanilla extracts, how are we to judge whether the product is halal or not? What questions should we ask the producer's corporate office in order to figure whether a vanilla flavored product is Halal.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Vanilla is a flavour derived from the vanilla plant, or more precisely vanilla planifolia. The vanilla plant comes from the family of orchids. The natural vanilla flavour, usually called Pure Natural Vanilla in non-alcoholic and is usually made with a glycerin or a propylene glycol base.[1]
Vanilla extract is a solution containing the flavour compound vanillin as the primary ingredient. Pure vanilla extract is made by macerating and percolating vanilla beans in a solution of ethyl alcohol and water. Although 35% is the standard alcohol requirement, premium vanilla extracts often contain a higher percentage of alcohol in order to extract more vanilla flavor from the beans. ^[2]
Vanillin is a flavorant made from synthetic or artificial vanilla.[3]
Vanilla extract, which contains alcohol, is used as an additive in foodstuffs. It will be halaal to consume such foodstuffs that contain the extract on condition the alcohol in producing the vanilla extract is not made from grapes or dates.^[4]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Arshad Ali
Student Darul Iftaa
Trinidad
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
http://www.daruliftaa.net/