Shellac (Confectioner's Glaze)

A glossy coating secreted by the lac insect; scholars are divided on its permissibility.

Why?

Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac insect, refined and used as a glossy coating on candy (like jelly beans and chocolate-covered items), pills, and citrus fruit. Because it comes from an insect secretion rather than flesh, some scholars treat it like beeswax and consider it halal; others are more cautious about insect-derived ingredients in general.

Good to know

Listed as mushbooh here because major halal certification bodies do not fully agree on its status; consult a certifier's specific ruling if this matters to you.

References

• General consensus of major halal certification bodies (e.g. IFANCA, JAKIM, HFA)

Last reviewed: 2026-08-30

This is informational guidance only, not a certified halal determination. Always consult an official halal certification body for certainty.