Polyhydric Alcohols (Sugar Alcohol)

Polyhydric alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, glycerin etc.) do not refer to the intoxicating ethanol (drinking alcohol), but are merely sugar substitutes. They are mainly used in dietetic foods as a sugar substitute, carrier and humectant. Due to their chemical structure, polyhydric alcohols belong to the group of alcohols.

Extraction 

Polyhydric alcohols originally occur in the form of sorbitol in pome fruit such as apples, pears, apricots or plums. An industrial production takes place from corn and wheat starch. The sorbitol is obtained on the basis of glucose (grape sugar). The sugar alcohol glycerin can also be produced synthetically, but it can also be obtained from plant or animal substances.

Are Polyhydric Alcohols Halal?

In the Kuran al-Karim, a ban on "Khamr" is mentioned six times. This term is incorrectly translated as "alcohol", but it is specifically referring to "intoxicating substances". The usual drinking alcohol (ethanol) also belongs to the category of intoxicating substances, whereby the polyhydric alcohols have no intoxicating effect and therefore cannot be classified as haram.