INS 901 is the code for beeswax
Puts the shine on coated confectionery and keeps moisture out of dried fruit.
- What it does
- Gives it a shine A glazing agent
- Also printed as
- White beeswax · Yellow beeswax
- Vegetarian?
- Not vegetarian From animals
- In the Zabel score
- Takes no points off Method 1.0.0
- In our catalogue
- 8 packs List it in their ingredients
Is INS 901 vegetarian?
INS 901 is made from animal material, so it is not vegetarian. A pack that lists it should carry the brown mark.
Too few packs in our catalogue list INS 901 for a breakdown by food to mean anything yet. We print one once at least 20 categorised packs carry it.
What does the evidence say about INS 901?
We grade an additive by the evidence about it, not by whether it sounds like a chemical, and we make no claim about whether a pack complies with FSSAI rules.
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is an animal product: it comes from bees. That is not a safety issue but it is a dietary one for vegans and for Jain diets.
Does Zabel mark INS 901 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0). Read the method.
Questions people search
What is INS 901?
INS 901 is the code for beeswax, a glazing agent. Puts the shine on coated confectionery and keeps moisture out of dried fruit.
Is INS 901 vegetarian?
INS 901 is made from animal material, so it is not vegetarian. A pack that lists it should carry the brown mark.
What does the evidence say about INS 901?
No numerical limit and no identified concern at food levels. It is an animal product: it comes from bees. That is not a safety issue but it is a dietary one for vegans and for Jain diets.
Does Zabel mark INS 901 down?
No. On the evidence we hold it takes nothing off the score (method 1.0.0).
What other names is INS 901 printed under?
Packs also print it as White beeswax and Yellow beeswax, or as the bare number 901 in brackets after the ingredient.
Sources
- 01 Evaluations of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) WHO / FAO, 2024
- 02 Zabel catalogue - pack counts, food categories and the codes printed alongside 4 Nov 2026
Entry updated 19 Sep 2026 · Not reviewed by a dietitian yet · Report an error on this page
Point the camera at the pack.
Zabel reads every INS code on it, shows the score, and shows the working.