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E902Glazing agentLow concern
Candelilla Wax
In plain words
The short version
A hard plant wax used to glaze confectionery and gum — a firmer, vegan alternative to beeswax coatings.
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; not absorbed.
The detail
A plant wax from the candelilla shrub (Euphorbia antisyphilitica) of Mexico and the southern US.
Glazing and coating agent for confectionery and chewing gum, and a harder, plant-based alternative to beeswax in coatings.
Hard, brittle yellow-brown wax.
Permitted in the EU, the US (GRAS), and globally.
Sources
- WHO JECFA database — Candelilla wax (INS 902), evaluation 2005 — World Health Organization / JECFA, 2005. No ADI specified (safety)
- 21 CFR 184.1976 — Candelilla wax (GRAS affirmation), eCFR text as of 2026-10-13 — US eCFR / FDA, 2026. US (GRAS); used in chewing gum and hard candy
- Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II, consolidated text of 18 August 2026 — E 902 conditions of use — Publications Office of the European Union, 2026. Permitted in the EU as a glazing agent
Checked against these sources on .
Educational information only. Not medical, dietary or veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.