Compare E903 vs E910, Carnauba wax vs Wax ester

Overview

E903 - Carnauba wax

Carnauba wax (E903) is a hard, natural wax from the leaves of the carnauba palm. Food makers use it as a glazing and anti-stick coating to give shine and protect foods during storage and transport. It also appears on some tablet and supplement coatings to help them swallow more easily.

E910 - Wax ester

Wax ester (E910) is a broad term for long‑chain wax compounds that can form a thin, shiny coating on foods. It has been used as a glazing agent, but it is rarely listed on modern ingredient labels because other, better‑defined waxes are preferred and more widely authorized.

Synonyms

E903

Carnauba wax

carnauba wax coating agents

E910

Wax ester

Functions

glazing agent

Origins

Plant

Animal

Synthetic

Products

Found in 9,053 products

Found in 2 products

Search rank & volume

#1409.7K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#410120 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×0.16

under-aware

×3.22

over-aware

Search volume over time

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

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions

Is carnauba wax edible?
Yes—E903 carnauba wax is an approved food glazing/coating agent and is considered safe at typical food levels; it’s essentially inert and passes through the body undigested.
Is carnauba wax vegan?
Yes—it's a plant-derived wax from the leaves of the carnauba palm and is generally considered vegan.
What is carnauba wax in food?
It’s a plant wax used as a glazing/coating agent to add shine, prevent sticking, and reduce moisture loss on products like candies, chewing gum, chocolate, and some fruits.
Where does carnauba wax come from?
It comes from the leaves of the carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera) native to northeastern Brazil; the dried leaves are beaten to release the wax, which is then refined.
How long does carnauba wax last?
The wax itself is very stable and can be stored for years if kept cool and dry; on foods, the thin coating lasts through the product’s normal shelf life but doesn’t significantly extend it.

Comparing E903 - Carnauba wax vs E910 - Wax ester