The favor of Shellac- Long-Life to the food and other variants
Shellac, the most interesting material that becomes the origin of the long shelf life of many food items, furniture, cosmetics, etc. is a matter of wonder for the people even today. ‘Natural glue’ is the correct term that can be awarded to Shellac.
Whatever you name, whether it’s fruit coating, medicinal pill coverage, a primary ingredient of French nail polish, confectionery glazing agent, printing inks, etc., you will find a familiar and only name that is ‘Shellac.’
We will be enlightened with the various types of shellac and their general usage. But, first, let’s check the refining process of shellac in the form of a chart for better understanding.
Various types of Shellac widely differ in the sphere of material properties. The increase in the differences is clearly understood along with the age of shellac.
- Digging the shellac processibility:
The processibility is influenced by the variations of the mechanical and physiological properties. It decides whether the shellac can be applied in the pharmaceutical industry. Owing to the regulatory status, the material may be allowed for coating the food products where there is no entry of other coating materials. The subcoat compositions lead to the development of the sustained release formulations of drugs and dietary supplements.
- Coming to the shellac variety and their mandatory usage:
- Wax coating shellac:
- It’s origin:
Traditional melting filtration process in which the molten seedlac is pressed via a filter and further spread out to a film
- It’s Usage:
- Shellac is vividly used as a ‘wax coating’ on the citrus fruits to increase the shelf life.
- It replaces the apple’s natural wax that is usually removed during cleaning. It has got a unique food additive E number that is E904.
- Bleached shellac:
- The birthplace:
When the shellac is dissolute in the aqueous alkali solution which is eminently followed by the treatment with sodium hypochlorite, we get bleached shellac. The bleaching process is the source of changes in the molecular structure like chlorination which out-turns in higher reactivity lowering the stability.
- The application of bleached shellac:
- Bleached shellac is non-toxic. Hence it is edible and physiologically harmless.
- The food industry is a lover of bleached shellac. From packaging to overlaying directly on the fruits, sweets, and confectioneries, shellac is the only coating agent, people trust.
- Bleached lac is durable, glossy and odorless. It has adhesive, binding and hardening qualities.
- The plus point is the fast drying character.
- Water – Alkali solutions and transparent or lightly tinted alcoholic solutions can be achieved from bleached lac.
- De-waxed shellac:
- Its contribution to the pharma industry:
- Refined shellac by the solvent extraction is widely used to coat medicinal pills.
- Shellac produced from Laccifer Lacca is utilized for making dentures.
In a nutshell, the benefaction of shellac is implemented as primer, binder, coating, glaze enhancing, adhesive, etc. in cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical products, textiles, adhesives, plastic, rubber, leather, fertilizers, seeds, fruits, wood, pyrotechnics, printer inks, paints, confectionery and many other viable things depending on the character and grade that is best suitable for the specific products.
Are you eating wax with your fruits?
Fruits like plums, apples, pears etc. have natural wax covering for the retainment of moisture and firmness, and slow down of the natural degradation.
But it is not possible for the farmers and the storekeepers to keep the fruits fresh and juicy for several months at a stretch. Additional food grade wax is being used for increasing the fruit’s shelf-life.
Know-how on wax coating on fruits:
The sparkling fruits that please your eyes are the result of the wax coating. Wax is always known to be a preserver of the gloss. The main motto of the fruit waxing technology is to produce prettier fruits than its original beauty with flossy, warm, seductive and glowing hues- to impress the consumers. Fruits and vegetables owe their super cleanliness and freshness due to the ultimate preserver called wax.
The artificial fruit wax makes allies with both presentation and preservation. The fungicides in it hinder the mold growth, handle the fruit respiration for slowing up the ripening and also shield the fruits from bruising during its package and travelling. Lovely tints and gleaming shellac are encompassed for boosting the appearance of the fruits. The wax coating on fruits and vegetables are the source of the intact blossoming youth for weeks and months.
Apple wax coating- is it real or artificial?
You may wonder that if apples can produce natural wax, then what the need to add more wax externally is.
Several reasons are there:
An excellent full wax coverage always stores better than half or less wax coating.
Apples have the capability of remaining crisp in CA or controlled- atmosphere storage for a more extended period using minimizing the storage’s oxygen level. To get the maximum benefit of the CA storage, apples must possess unscathed top wax coating.
Is there any reason to worry?
Wax is derived from either natural or synthetic processes. But, both are organic compounds. The natural waxes are habitually esters of the fatty acids as well as the long-chain alcohol. Individual animals and plants can produce edible waxes that are known as ‘food-grade waxes.’ They are entirely safe to be used on food and okay for humans consumption.
Is the wax edible?
The FDA has certified both the Shellac and Carnauba wax as risk-free for human consumption. Shellac, beewax, petroleum jelly and carnauba are edible waxes. Shellac is used for apple and other fruits coating to make them look shinier. D. Manoharlal (Shellac) Pvt. Ltd., the most prominent Shellac manufacturer of India, has opined that it can be used in coating medicines, confectioneries, food, hats, wood, and cosmetics safely as replacement of Candelilla and Carnauba Wax.
Owing to the profound usage of coating on medicines, fruits, and vegetables, we can comprehend that wax coating is consumable. Next time you are shopping in the food market, don’t worry about the wax cover and buy them. You can always use vinegar or lemon juice to remove the overcoat if you wish.
