Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
- The use of ethanol (natural and synthetic) as a solvent is permissible as long as it is not produced from prohibited products.
- The content of ethanol in the flavoring should not exceed 0.5%, and the content of ethanol in the end-product should not exceed 0.1%.
In responding to your question, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), states:
After research and gathering information on ethanol product, the Fatwa Committee finds that the ethanol content in food flavorings is less than 0.5%. This percentage is not at the intoxicating level.
The ethanol used is not produced from prohibited products like khamr (wine). Hence, it is not impure.
The permissibility of using ethanol is exclusively for the purpose of flavoring. Ethanol used in a food or beverage product not for the purpose of flavoring is not permissible.
The Fatwa Committee opines that the use of ethanol (natural and synthetic) as a solvent is permissible. This ruling is applicable as long as the ethanol is not produced from prohibited products. The content of ethanol in the flavoring should not exceed 0.5%, and the content of ethanol in the end-product should not exceed 0.1%.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Source: https://www.muis.gov.sg/