Is Beeswax Vegetarian?

Vegetarian

The animal is not killed to obtain it, which is the line a vegetarian diet draws. It remains an animal product, so it sits outside a vegan diet.

The two diets, side by side

A vegetarian diet excludes animals that were killed. A vegan diet excludes animal products entirely, whether the animal survived or not. Beeswax sits in the gap between them: it clears the first bar and fails the second.

Beeswax is not vegan. Worker bees secrete it in flakes to build honeycomb, and beekeepers cut the wax cappings away when they harvest the honey. On a food label it reads E901, glazing sweets, chocolate, and cheese rinds.

Relevant to: Insect

What it is

Comes from: Secreted by worker bees to construct honeycomb. Harvested during honey collection; considered an animal product by vegan standards.
Which animal: honeybee
Requires slaughter: No, the animal keeps living
Where you meet it: Lip balm, lipstick, mascara, moisturizers, hair wax, cheese coatings, chocolate confections, furniture polish, candles.
What replaces it: Carnauba wax (E903), Candelilla wax (E902), rice bran wax.

Editorial notes

Extremely common in cosmetics and food glazes. A major hidden non-vegan ingredient. E901 on food labels indicates beeswax.

Frequently asked questions

Is Beeswax vegetarian?

Vegetarian. The animal is not killed to obtain it, which is the line a vegetarian diet draws. It remains an animal product, so it sits outside a vegan diet.

Is Beeswax vegan?

Not Vegan. Beeswax is not vegan. Worker bees secrete it in flakes to build honeycomb, and beekeepers cut the wax cappings away when they harvest the honey. On a food label it reads E901, glazing sweets, chocolate, and cheese rinds.

Is beeswax vegan?

No, beeswax is not vegan. Honey bees produce it, and beekeepers harvest it from their hives, which makes it an animal-derived ingredient by all mainstream vegan standards. This applies to both yellow (cera flava) and white (cera alba) beeswax.

What is E901 on a food label?

E901 is the European food additive number for beeswax. Glazing is its main use. It gives a shiny, protective coating to candies, chocolate confections, and some fresh fruit. If a product lists E901, it contains beeswax and is not vegan.

What can I use instead of beeswax?

The most common plant-based substitutes are candelilla wax (E902) and carnauba wax (E903). Candelilla is the closest match for balms and cosmetics, though it is harder, so recipes typically use less of it. Rice bran wax, sunflower wax, and soy wax also work depending on the application.