E901: Beeswax
Main role: glazing and coating
Also listed as: white beeswax, yellow beeswax
What is E901 (Beeswax)?
Beeswax is a wax produced by bees and used in specified food surface treatments. It helps form a protective or shiny coating without being the main ingredient of the food beneath it.
What does it do in food?
Its main role is glazing and coating. A glazing ingredient acts mainly at the food’s surface. Its role can be appearance, protection, or handling. Different waxes and coating materials have different origins and food-use specifications.
Food and formulation examples
- Confectionery coatings
- Fruit surface treatments
- Food supplement coatings
These examples describe formulation roles, not a list of unrestricted legal uses. Availability and permitted applications differ by country and food category.
Label names and ingredient questions
Look for E901, E 901, or the ingredient name. Related names and label terms include white beeswax, yellow beeswax. A family code can cover more than one specified form; check the full declaration when the distinction matters.
Beeswax is animal-derived and therefore unsuitable for a strict vegan diet. A shiny surface does not identify the coating: carnauba wax, shellac, and other glazing agents are different ingredients.
Is E901 safe?
There is no meaningful personal risk estimate from an E number alone. Food-grade specifications, allowed uses, amount consumed, and individual circumstances all matter. The authorization record below gives the legal scope; it is not a claim that every possible use is appropriate.
A label identifies the ingredient but usually not its concentration. Calculating daily intake requires the amount in the food and the quantities eaten.
Authorization and conditions of use
The Great Britain food additive register lists E901 as Beeswax, white and yellow. This is an entry subject to its stated conditions, not unrestricted permission for every food. The record links to the applicable authorization terms. For an EU product, use the European Commission food additive database to check the relevant food category and limits. Other countries may use different names or rules.