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E901Glazing agentLow concern
Beeswax
In plain words
The short version
A traditional glazing wax from honeybees — used to coat confectionery and fresh produce.
Why it's green
It's widely considered safe at the amounts used in food, so we mark it green. The Safety section below has the details.
Safety profile
No ADI specified. Considered safe at typical use levels. Not absorbed; passes through the digestive tract. Rare allergic sensitivity to propolis components has been reported.
The detail
Secreted by worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) to build honeycomb. Yellow beeswax is the raw form; white beeswax is bleached. Used by humans since ancient Egypt for embalming, candles, and food coating.
Used to polish coated confectionery, glaze fresh fruit (especially citrus), and as a chewing gum base. Provides shine, moisture barrier, and a smooth mouth-feel. Not suitable for vegan diets.
Yellow to white granular wax, insoluble in water, partially soluble in hot oils and alcohols. Melts at 62–65°C. Naturally contains long-chain esters, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons.
In the EU, permitted at quantum satis but only as a glazing agent or surface treatment in listed foods, such as confectionery, chewing gum, certain fresh fruit, nuts, coffee beans and solid food supplements; it is also authorised as a carrier for colours and nutrients. In the US it is GRAS, with good-manufacturing-practice maximum levels from 0.1% in soft candy down to 0.002% or less in most foods.
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Beeswax (INS 901), ADI 'not specified' (65th meeting, 2005) — WHO / Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, 2005. No ADI specified; no safety concern at predicted exposure
- eCFR — 21 CFR 184.1973 Beeswax (yellow and white) (GRAS) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration / Office of the Federal Register, 1985. US: GRAS with good-manufacturing-practice maximum levels per food category; white beeswax is bleached yellow wax
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, consolidated text of 18 August 2026 (Annex II) — European Union (Publications Office), 2026. EU: quantum satis but only as glazing/surface-treatment agent in listed foods
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.