Have you eaten wax?
24/11/2025
If you have eaten anything you see in this bowl, you've eaten wax. Wax is used as a coating for different types of food. To learn more about the topic, I started by reading the E numbers, which are used for food additives. It turns out there are numbers for a lot of waxes.
The E numbers rabbit hole is a good one. You can find the up-to-date info here.
If you do search, you will find the list below.
| E number | Description |
|---|---|
| E 901 | Beeswax, white and yellow |
| E 902 | Candelilla wax |
| E 903 | Carnauba wax |
| E 904 | Shellac |
| E 905 | Microcrystalline wax |
| E 905a | High viscosity mineral oils |
| E 907 | Hydrogenated poly-1-decene |
| E 912 | Montan acid esters |
| E 914 | Oxidised polyethylene wax |
Note that some numbers are missing. So where are they? It turns out there is an organisation that has been setting additive numbers as well. The Codex Alimentarius international food standards have a few more.
The most exotic of them all must be the spermaceti wax. I mention this since its trade has been banned since 1981. Have a look.
