Comparing E414 - Acacia gum vs E904 - Shellac

Overview

E414 - Acacia gum

E414, also called acacia gum or gum arabic, is a natural gum tapped from acacia trees. It helps keep flavor oils mixed in drinks, smooths candy coatings, and adds body as a stabilizer and thickener. It is widely used in both the U.S. and the EU and is considered safe when used as intended. [^2][^3]

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E904 - Shellac

Shellac (E904) is a food-grade glaze that gives candies, nuts, and some fruits a smooth, shiny finish. It is a purified natural resin made from the secretions of the lac insect and is approved in many regions as a surface treatment for foods.

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Synonyms
E414
Acacia gum
gum arabic
gum acacia
arabic gum
Gum arabic
E-414
E 414
INS414
INS 414
E904
Shellac
Bleached shellac
Functions
carrieremulsifierstabilizerthickener
glazing agent
Origins
Plant
Animal
Products

Found in 12,914 products

Found in 1,341 products

Search rank & volume
#10119.4K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#8329.3K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.22
under-aware

×3.18
over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 9 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

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Popular questions

  1. Is gum arabic bad for you?

    No—gum arabic (E414) is considered safe at permitted levels; it is GRAS in the U.S. and EFSA found no safety concern at current uses. Large amounts may cause gas or bloating, and allergic reactions are rare.

  2. Is acacia gum bad for you?

    No—acacia gum (gum arabic, E414) is generally safe; JECFA set an ADI 'not specified,' indicating very low toxicity. Excessive intake can cause mild digestive discomfort.

  3. Is gum arabic vegan?

    Yes—it's a plant-derived sap from acacia trees with no animal-derived ingredients, so it is considered vegan.

  4. Is gum arabic gluten free?

    Yes—it's naturally gluten-free; pure gum arabic contains no wheat, barley, or rye, though manufacturing cross-contamination is possible.

  5. What is gum arabic used for?

    It functions as an emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener, and carrier—commonly used in soft-drink flavor emulsions, confectionery (gummies, glazes), bakery icings, and for encapsulating flavors.

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  1. What is shellac nails?

    In beauty, “shellac nails” are a UV-cured hybrid gel-polish service (e.g., CND Shellac); despite the name, it does not use the food additive shellac (E904) resin used as a glaze.

  2. How to remove shellac nail polish?

    Soak the nails in acetone for about 10–15 minutes (using cotton and foil or remover wraps), then gently push off the softened coating—do not peel to avoid nail damage.

  3. Is shellac the same as gel?

    Not exactly—Shellac is a specific brand of gel-polish hybrid, while “gel” can refer broadly to many soak-off UV/LED gel systems; they cure similarly and have comparable wear.

  4. What is a shellac manicure?

    A manicure using a UV/LED-cured gel-polish system branded “Shellac” for long-lasting color; it’s unrelated to the food glazing agent shellac (E904).

  5. What are shellac nails?

    They are nails coated with a UV-cured gel-polish branded “Shellac” for chip-resistant wear, not coated with the food additive shellac (E904) used in food glazes.

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