Is Shellac (E904) vegan?
Not vegan
No — shellac is a resin secreted by lac insects and harvested with them.
Also listed as: confectioner's glaze, E904, lac resin
Why
Shellac is scraped from tree branches along with the insects embedded in it. It is used to glaze sweets, apples, coffee beans and pill coatings.
What to check on the label
- Confectioner's glaze on sweets
- Waxed apples and citrus
- E904 in tablet coatings
Swap it for
Carnauba waxZein-free plant glazesUnwaxed fruit
Questions people ask
Is carnauba wax vegan?
Yes — it comes from the leaves of a Brazilian palm.
Where does shellac hide?
Chocolate lentils, jelly beans, coated nuts, some supplements and nail products.