E904 — Shellac
E904 (Shellac), a glazing agent, is rated "watch": fine in moderation. A resin secreted by the lac insect. The shiny coating on jelly beans and chocolate-covered candies, and on many apple skins. Not vegan.
What is Shellac?
A natural resin secreted by the lac insect in India and Thailand. Used to glaze jelly beans, chocolate panned candies, pills, and (controversially) some supermarket apples and citrus.
What does it do to the body?
Passes through your gut largely unabsorbed. No realistic safety concern. Insect-derived, so not vegan or kosher unless specifically certified.
What regulators say
EFSA and the FDA both treat it as a safe additive with no numerical acceptable daily intake.
Risk rating: Watch
Mixed evidence or a specific concern (gut, allergy, or contested safety data). Not alarming, but worth keeping an eye on rather than eating without limit.