Glazing agent
E904 (shellac): what it is, its sources, vegan or not
E904 is shellac, a glazing agent made from lac insects. Vegan and vegetarian profiles get Not for you.
By Bravoora teamUpdated Sources checked 4 sourcesHow we check
Not for you
for a vegan profile
E904=lac insects
What is E904?
E904 (shellac) is a glazing agent, an additive that gives the outside of a food a shine or a protective coat.
Full guide: Shellac (E904)
What is E904 made from?
E904 comes from lac insects. Made from a resin produced by lac insects.
- Lac insectsRead the shellac guide
Is E904 vegan?
Not for you. E904 comes from lac insects. Insects count as animal.
What the app says to each profile, and the reason it shows.
What other names does E904 have on a label?
On a label, E904 can also appear as “INS 904”, “Glazing agent (904)”, “Glazing agent (E904)”, “Shellac” or “Confectioner's glaze”.
Any of these on a pack means E904. The checker reads them all.
What would change the answer for E904?
Nothing on the pack changes the answer: E904 is always from lac insects. A recipe that drops the code would.
Sources: EU, US and Codex additive rules
Where additives are listed and approved. Bravoora reads the source and the diet; it does not rate the hazard.
- EU Regulation 1333/2008 on food additives (the E-number list)
- EU Regulation 1169/2011, Annex II: the allergen sources a label must name
- US FDA: Food Additive Status List
- FAO/WHO Codex: General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) online
Names and classes cross-checked with Open Food Facts (Open Database License).
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