Shellac (Confectioner's Glaze)
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 · Evidence strength: Very limited · How we grade evidence
In plain words: Shellac is a shiny coating made from a resin produced by lac insects, used on candies and some fruit. It's used in tiny amounts and isn't a safety concern. It does matter for vegan or vegetarian families.
Also listed on labels as: Shellac, Confectioner's glaze, Lac resin, Resinous glaze, E904
What is it, and why is it in food?
Shellac is a natural resin secreted by lac insects, purified and dissolved to make a glaze. It's on jelly beans, chocolate candies, sprinkles, coated nuts and some fruit, and it's used to coat pills.
What does the science say?
| The popular claim | "Shellac may cause allergies and is hard to digest." (Dr. Eric Berg) |
| Our verdict on that claim | Not supported |
| Evidence strength | Very limited: no evidence of harm; an EU review found no concern. |
| Kinds of studies | EU safety review |
- Safety: EFSA's 2024 review found that even when high intakes exceeded its safe daily limit, that "does not indicate a safety concern."1
- Allergy: reports are at the case-report level only.
What do regulators say?
- EFSA (2024): no safety concern.1
- US: permitted as a food coating.
Who should be careful?
- Vegan and vegetarian families: shellac is an animal product.
How common is it in US foods?
In our check of USDA's Branded Foods database, 9,794 of 438,129 US packaged foods with an ingredient list name shellac or confectioner's glaze (about 2.2%, or roughly 1 in 45).2 It shows up most often in: candy (2,611); popcorn, peanuts, seeds & related snacks (2,362); cookies & biscuits (1,340); cakes, cupcakes, snack cakes (945); baking decorations & dessert toppings (841). These are label records companies sent to USDA, mostly in 2021 to 2023, so some products have changed since. Counts come from a text match of ingredient lists and are approximate.
Swaps and tips for families
- For vegans, look for candies labeled vegan or coated with carnauba wax instead.
Beyond the plate: related non-food exposures
Shellac is used in wood finishes and nail polish. Fumes from solvent-based finishes are a separate solvent issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is shellac safe to eat?
Yes, in the tiny amounts used as a coating. Europe's 2024 review found no safety concern.
Is confectioner's glaze vegan?
No. It's shellac, made from a resin produced by lac insects.
Is shellac on fruit the same as furniture shellac?
Both come from lac resin, but food-grade shellac is purified and used in tiny amounts. Furniture finishes contain solvents not used in food.
Related guides
Sources
Every source below was checked against PubMed, the publisher or the official page by our research team in October 2026.
- Re-evaluation of shellac (E 904) as a food additive and a new application on the extension of use of shellac (E 904) in dietary foods for special medical purposes. EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 2024. PubMed 39099614 · doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8897
- FoodData Central, Branded Foods dataset (release 2026-04-30). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2026. Link
This guide is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. If you think you or your child reacted to a food, talk to a health professional. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].