Candelilla wax
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0.00
points/product
Description
The food additive E902, known as candelilla wax, is a vegetable wax obtained from the leaves of the Euphorbia cerifera plant (also called Euphorbia antisyphilitica), native to northern Mexico and the southern United States. It is a natural wax composed mainly of fatty acid esters (such as palmitic, stearic, and arachidic acid), long-chain hydrocarbons (alkanes such as hentriacontane), and small amounts of alcohols and resins.
Industrially, the wax is extracted by immersing dried leaves in hot water with a solvent (such as hexane) or by hot pressing, followed by filtration and purification. Candelilla wax has a melting point between 68-73 °C, is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents, and has a hard, brittle texture at room temperature. Its main function in food is as a coating and glazing agent, providing shine and protection to fruits, vegetables, candies, chocolates, and other products. It is also used as a bulking agent and texturizer.
The history of its food use dates back to the early 20th century, and it was approved in the European Union as a food additive in Directive 95/2/EC, currently regulated by Regulation (EC) 1333/2008. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated candelilla wax on several occasions, most recently in 2012 (EFSA Journal 2012;10(5):2667), concluding that there are no safety concerns at authorized use levels.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) have also evaluated it, establishing an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of "not specified," meaning that a numerical limit is not considered necessary given its low toxicological profile. Regarding labeling, it must be declared as "candelilla wax" or "E902" in the ingredient list. Globally, it is considered a safe additive for the general population, with no known adverse effects at consumed amounts. Food safety is supported by decades of use and toxicological studies showing no genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicity. EFSA has indicated that no additional studies are required.
In summary, E902 is a natural, well-tolerated, and widely accepted additive.
Candelilla wax (E902) is mainly used as a coating and glazing agent in foods. In the European Union, it is authorized in several categories according to Regulation (EC) 1333/2008. It is used on fresh fruits and vegetables (such as apples, citrus fruits, cucumbers) to provide shine and delay moisture loss, at quantum satis levels (no specific maximum limit, but limited by good manufacturing practices). It is also used in confectionery products (chocolates, candies, chewing gum), on nuts (such as almonds and peanuts) to add shine, and in food supplements as a coating agent.
In the Spanish market, candelilla wax is commonly found on waxed apples, high-quality chocolates (such as Belgian or Swiss origin), and some hard candies. Authorized limits vary: for example, in fresh fruits and vegetables, quantum satis is allowed, while in confectionery products the maximum limit is 500 mg/kg (0.05%). Comparatively, the FDA (United States) also approves candelilla wax as a food additive (21 CFR 184.1976) with GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status, without specific limits beyond good practices. In Japan, it is permitted as a natural food additive.
There are no significant differences in uses between regions, although the EU requires more detailed labeling.
Candelilla wax (E902) has no documented side effects in humans at the amounts used in foods. Toxicological studies conducted by EFSA and JECFA have found no evidence of acute, subchronic, chronic toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, or reproductive toxicity. In animal studies, high doses (up to 10 g/kg body weight) caused no significant adverse effects.
No allergic reactions attributable to candelilla wax have been reported in the general population. Since it is a vegetable wax composed of fatty acid esters and hydrocarbons, its biological mechanism is inert: it is not digested or absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, but is excreted unchanged in feces. No interactions with medications are known. Sensitive populations (such as children, pregnant women, or the elderly) do not require special precautions, as exposure is very low.
EFSA concluded in its 2012 evaluation that there are no safety concerns and that it is not necessary to establish a numerical ADI. WHO/JECFA also assigned an ADI of "not specified," indicating that consumption at normal levels does not pose a health risk. Therefore, it is considered a safe and well-tolerated additive.
- Candelilla wax
- Candelilla wax
- Euphorbia cerifera wax
- Euphorbia antisyphilitica wax
- Candelilla wax
- Vegetable candelilla wax
- Candelilla extract
- Candelilla bush wax
- Protective vegetable wax
- Refined candelilla
- Euphorbiaceae wax
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