Carnauba Wax — Hidden Processing Agent — Is It Vegan?
Also known as: E903, Brazil wax, Palm wax, Copernicia prunifera wax
Vegan
No animals or animal-derived substances are involved in producing this agent.
Not required on labels
Listed as E903 or 'carnauba wax' in ingredient lists. A vegan-friendly alternative to shellac (E904) and beeswax (E901) for glazing applications.
Source
Extracted from the leaves of the carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera), grown in north-eastern Brazil. The wax is beaten from dried leaves. Entirely plant-derived.
Used In
Confectionery glazing (M&Ms, Skittles, some chocolate-covered raisins), fruit wax coatings on citrus and apples, pharmaceutical tablet coatings, car wax, shoe polish.
How to Avoid
No need to avoid — carnauba wax is vegan. When checking confectionery, E903 is the preferred outcome over E904 (shellac) or E901 (beeswax).
Editorial Notes
Carnauba wax has the highest melting point of all commercial waxes, making it extremely useful as a glaze. Skittles, M&Ms, and most other sugar-shelled sweets use carnauba wax — one reason they are vegan (though M&Ms contain dairy so are not vegan overall). Vegans should confirm carnauba wax vs shellac when assessing glazed products.