Ingredient · E904

Shellac

Auto-generated content. This description was generated automatically and is pending editorial review. Inaccuracies are possible. Found a mistake? Contact us.

Source
Animal-derived
Allergen
No
Role in food
In food, shellac is primarily used as a glazing agent to give products a …

What it is

Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the female lac bug (Kerria lacca), which is native to forests in India and Thailand. The resin is harvested from trees, then processed and purified to create the shellac used in food.

Why it's used

In food, shellac is primarily used as a glazing agent to give products a shiny, protective coating. It helps prevent moisture loss, extends shelf life, and improves the appearance of candies, confections, and some fresh produce.

Health notes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers shellac to be Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use as a glazing and finishing agent in food. JECFA (the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has evaluated shellac and determined that an acceptable daily intake (ADI) does not need to be specified. There are no known adverse health effects at typical intake levels.

Allergen info

Shellac is not considered a major allergen by the FDA, nor does it contain gluten.

Products containing Shellac

Compare products →
Sort by: Sugar Protein Sodium Calories
RED HOTS Red Hots, Candy, Cinnamon Candy 400kcal 0Protein 0Fat 100Carbs CHARLOTTE'S Charlotte's, Mini Sugar Cookies Cookies & Biscuits 433kcal 6.7Protein 15Fat 70Carbs CREATE A TREAT Halloween Add On Kit Cookies Cookies & Biscuits 408kcal 4.1Protein 12.2Fat 73.5Carbs CREATE A TREAT Create A Treat, Halloween Add On Kit Cookie, Vanilla Cookies & Biscuits 422kcal 4.4Protein 11.1Fat 73.3Carbs FOOD 4 LESS Confetti Cakeire Bar Cake Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 105% DV per serving High in cholesterol — 57% DV per serving 370kcal 3.7Protein 24.7Fat 34.6Carbs SWEET SMILES Fat Free Jelly Beans Candy 375kcal 0Protein 0Fat 95Carbs CHARLOTTE'S Mini Sugar Cookies Cookies & Biscuits 455kcal 9.1Protein 15.2Fat 69.7Carbs REESE'S Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Cake Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 25% DV per serving 403kcal 6.0Protein 22.4Fat 47.8Carbs TARGET Jumbo Monster Cookie Cookies & Biscuits High in saturated fat — 45% DV per serving 442kcal 8.8Protein 23.0Fat 54.9Carbs FESTIVAL Gory Cupcake Decor Kit Baking Accessories 375kcal 0Protein 0Fat 100Carbs TWO-BITE Unicorn Cupcakes Cakes, Cupcakes, Snack Cakes High in saturated fat — 30% DV per serving High in added sugars — 64% DV per serving 423kcal 2.8Protein 21.1Fat 56.3Carbs Candy Chip Cookies TWO-BITE Candy Chip Cookies Cookies & Biscuits 438kcal 3.1Protein 15.6Fat 65.6Carbs
Sugar (379 products) Corn Syrup (350 products) Carnauba Wax (327 products) Corn Starch (243 products) Gum Arabic (240 products) Citric Acid (237 products) Red 40 (224 products) Salt (198 products) Confectioner's Glaze (194 products) Yellow 5 (192 products)

Last updated: September 28, 2026

Note: This site presents label data from USDA FoodData Central for general information. It is not medical advice. Check the package label; formulations change.