E904 (shellac) — What It Is, Foods Containing It, Safety Profile

E904 is the EU food-additive code for shellac. It functions in food as a excipient (pharma-grade carrier). This page indexes publicly-available regulatory and encyclopaedic data so consumers reading an ingredient label can quickly look up what they're seeing — and verify each fact at the linked primary source.

Sources: EFSA · Wikidata (Q429659) · Wikipedia · last fetched 2026-06-03

What E904 is

shellac is the substance assigned EU food-additive code E904. In the EU regulatory framework, E-numbers are codes for substances that have been evaluated for use as food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 on food additives, with the European Food Safety Authority performing safety re-evaluations). The same substance carries different identifiers in other jurisdictions — for example, the US FDA refers to substances by their chemical name and CAS number in its Food Substances database; Codex Alimentarius uses INS (International Numbering System) numbers which usually match EU E-numbers.

• Molecular formula: C₃₀H₅₀O₁₁

What it does in food

E904 is used as a excipient (pharma-grade carrier) — meaning it carries the active substance in pharmaceutical or fortified-food formulations.

Where you'll find it

We don't currently have indexed consumer products carrying E904 in their declared ingredient list. Permitted food categories are listed in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 — searchable in the EU food-additive database.

Regulatory status

• European Union: assigned E-number E904, which means the substance has been evaluated and listed under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Specific permitted food categories and maximum levels are in Annex II of the same regulation. Re-evaluations are published in the EFSA Journal.
• United States: the FDA does not use E-numbers; the substance status (GRAS, food additive petition, prior-sanctioned, colour additive) can be checked in the Substances Added to Food database by name or CAS.
• Codex Alimentarius (international): uses INS numbers which usually match EU E-numbers. Codex GSFA (General Standard for Food Additives) at fao.org/gsfaonline.

Safety review history

EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) — and its predecessor, the ANS Panel — periodically re-evaluates approved food additives. To read the most recent published opinion on E904 (shellac), search the EFSA Journal. The opinion will state whether an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been set, whether existing exposure estimates are within that ADI, and whether any restrictions or further data are recommended.

ProductGuru indexes publicly-published regulatory data. We do not summarise or paraphrase safety conclusions — please read the EFSA opinion directly, since regulatory language is precise and context-dependent.

Other additives with the same role

Other E-numbers ProductGuru indexes that are listed as a excipient (pharma-grade carrier) are tagged excipient on this site. Browse to compare common alternatives food manufacturers use for the same role.

If you have a food sensitivity or allergy

Whether E904 is appropriate in your personal diet depends on your specific medical situation — for example, certain colourings carry mandatory EU label warnings about possible effects on activity and attention in children (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex V), some preservatives have been associated with reactions in sensitive individuals, and some additives are not suitable for specific dietary requirements. This page does not provide medical or dietary advice. Please talk to a registered dietitian or your doctor about specific dietary concerns or suspected reactions to a food additive. If you've had an acute allergic reaction, contact emergency care.

Verify these facts on the primary register

• Verify on EFSA →
• EU food-additive database (per-category permissions) →
• Wikidata entry (Q429659) →
• Wikipedia article →
• US FDA Substances Added to Food →
• Codex Alimentarius GSFA →

Disclaimer. This page indexes publicly-published food-additive data sourced from Wikidata (CC0), with regulatory deep-links to EFSA, the EU food-additive database, the US FDA, and Codex Alimentarius. This is NOT medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about specific dietary concerns or allergies. We do not recommend any particular dietary action based on the information on this page — please verify each claim directly with the linked primary source before acting on it.