Is Shellac vegan?
Not vegan· E904
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug. Not vegan.
Also known as: confectioner's glaze, resinous glaze, pharmaceutical glaze
What it is
A resin scraped from the bark of trees where the lac insect deposits it. Refined into flakes and dissolved into a glaze.
Why not vegan
Production kills large numbers of lac insects, and the substance itself is an animal secretion.
Where you'll find it
- Shiny candies (jelly beans, M&Ms, Skittles in some regions)
- Coatings on apples and citrus
- Pill coatings
- Wood finishes
- Nail polish
Vegan alternatives
- Carnauba wax (from palm)
- Zein (corn protein) coatings
- Plant-based waxes
FAQ
- Are M&Ms vegan?
- Standard M&Ms contain dairy and often shellac, so they are not vegan.