Is shellac (E904) vegetarian?
Red — not vegetarian
No — not unless the label says otherwise. Shellac (904) — glaze secreted by lac insects. LabelSense marks a pack containing it Red (not vegetarian), unless the label pins it to a non-animal source, e.g. "plant-based glaze".
By diet
| Diet | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Vegetarian No meat, no fish, no egg. | Not suitable |
| Eggetarian Vegetarian, and egg is fine. | Not suitable |
| Pescetarian Vegetarian plus fish and seafood. | Not suitable |
| Vegan No dairy, honey or any animal by-product. | Not suitable |
| Jain No onion, garlic, root vegetables, fungi or honey. | Not suitable |
| Swaminarayan Vegetarian, without the onion–garlic family. | Not suitable |
These verdicts are exactly what LabelSense shows for a label listing “shellac” and nothing else. On a real pack, the other ingredients count too.
What settles the source
Only a phrase on the label that pins it to a non-animal source changes the verdict. A general halal mark does not.
Phrases LabelSense accepts: “plant-based glaze”, “vegetable glaze”.
How it appears on labels
shellacE904904
Related ingredients
Results come from reading the label. Always check the pack yourself, especially for allergies. Ingredient sources can change without notice — when a label doesn't settle it, ask the manufacturer.
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