Is beeswax (E901) halal?

What is E901?

Beeswax is the wax honeybees use to build their honeycomb. Yellow beeswax is obtained by melting the comb in hot water and removing impurities, and white beeswax is the same wax bleached. In food it gives a thin, shiny coating and can carry flavours.

Why it's marked “Generally halal”

Beeswax comes from bees without any slaughter, and like honey it is treated as a clean product of the bee. It contains no material from other animals, and bleaching it to make white beeswax adds nothing of animal origin.

How to check the label

No special check is needed for beeswax itself. If the coating also lists shellac (E904), that ingredient has its own question, so read the whole list.

Where you'll find it

• coated sweets
• chewing gum
• fresh fruit coatings
• food supplements

Good to know

• EU specifications define it as wax from the honeycomb of the honeybee Apis mellifera, sold as yellow beeswax or bleached white beeswax.
• JECFA found no safety concern at expected intakes, based on its long history of use, and lists it as a glazing agent and carrier for flavours.

Similar additives

• E551 Silicon dioxide Generally halal
• E903 Carnauba wax Generally halal
• E913 Lanolin Generally halal
• E1520 Propylene glycol Generally halal
• E422 Glycerol (glycerin) Depends on the source
• E570 Fatty acids (stearic acid) Depends on the source

See all 89 E-numbers in the halal checker

This list describes where additives usually come from. It isn't a religious ruling, and manufacturers can change their sources. Last reviewed: 14 October 2026.

Sources

1. EU additive specifications, Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 (E 901)
2. JECFA evaluation of beeswax (INCHEM)

Frequently asked questions