Is E904 halal?
Shellac
Broadly tolerated. Shellac is a resin the lac insect secretes, not the insect itself. Scholars differ only slightly on it.
Holding the pack? One E-code is one line of the label. Scan the whole pack and get one answer for your mazhab.
What E904 is
Shellac is a glaze made from a resin secreted by the lac insect. It is used on sweets, tablets and fruit.
By mazhab
What a HalalSnap scan concludes when the pack does not settle the question, under each school setting in the app.
| School | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Broadly tolerated | The same answer under every school setting. The difference of opinion is minor and is explained in a scan.R-ADD-07 |
| Shafi'i | Broadly tolerated | |
| Maliki | Broadly tolerated | |
| Hanbali | Broadly tolerated | |
| General / mixed | Broadly tolerated |
By market
HalalSnap names an authority only inside that authority's own country. Where it holds no published list, it says so.
| Market | Answer | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore (MUIS) | Listed syubhah (MUIS, 2016) | MUIS marks E904 syubhah. HalalSnap treats it as broadly tolerated and records it as an open question for a scholar. |
| Malaysia (JAKIM) | Broadly tolerated | HalalSnap holds no JAKIM additive list, so a scan gives the same answer and names no authority for it. |
| Indonesia (MUI / BPJPH) | Broadly tolerated | HalalSnap holds no MUI additive list, so a scan gives the same answer and names no authority for it. |
| Elsewhere or market unknown | Broadly tolerated | The same answer in every market. Only the authority a scan names changes with where you are. |
Why it depends
Shellac is a resin the lac insect secretes, not the insect itself. Its source is known, so the question is whether an insect secretion is acceptable. HalalSnap treats it as broadly tolerated, with minor difference of opinion at most. Singapore's MUIS marks it syubhah in its 2016 certifier list.
How to check the pack
- A halal mark printed on the pack settles it for anyone who wants certainty.
- Look for a recognised halal mark (JAKIM, MUI/BPJPH, MUIS or another reputable certifier) on the pack in your hand. A mark you can see settles it for the whole product.R-CERT-01
- Still unsure? Ask the maker which source they use, or choose a certified alternative.
Questions people ask
What is E904?
Shellac is a glaze made from a resin secreted by the lac insect. It is used on sweets, tablets and fruit.
Is E904 halal or haram?
Broadly tolerated. Shellac is a resin the lac insect secretes, not the insect itself. Scholars differ only slightly on it.
Is E904 halal in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia?
Singapore: MUIS marks E904 syubhah. HalalSnap treats it as broadly tolerated and records it as an open question for a scholar. Malaysia: HalalSnap holds no JAKIM additive list, so a scan gives the same answer and names no authority for it. Indonesia: HalalSnap holds no MUI additive list, so a scan gives the same answer and names no authority for it.
Does my mazhab change the answer for E904?
No. HalalSnap gives the same answer for E904 under every school setting, because the question is not one the schools differ on in its rules.
How can I tell whether the E904 in my product is halal?
A halal mark printed on the pack settles it for anyone who wants certainty. HalalSnap does this for you: scan the whole pack and it reads every ingredient, looks for a halal or vegan mark, and gives one answer for your mazhab.
Sources
- HalalSnap ruling table v1.4, rule R-ADD-07 20 Aug 2026
- MUIS Food Additive Listing (Singapore). Syubhah flag only 13 Sep 2016
Review status: Open question for a scholar. Ruling table open item: E901 and E904 are flagged by MUIS but are insect-derived with a known source. They need a ruling rather than a rule. Rule ids refer to HalalSnap's ruling table, the decision table every scan follows. The MUIS listing is reproduced as a factual flag only; it is a certifier verification list for Singapore, dated 2016, not a consumer fatwa.
Related ingredients
All glazing agents, gases and flour treatment · Search every E-number and ingredient
One E-code is one line of the label.
Scan the whole pack and get one answer for your mazhab. HalalSnap reads every ingredient, looks for a halal or vegan mark, and shows which line decides it.
- Every ingredient on the pack, not one code at a time
- Set to your mazhab, with the reasoning shown
- Food, drinks, supplements, cosmetics and toothpaste
- Free to download, with weekly community credits
