Natural waxes are generally defined as being intimately derived from natural sources such as living plants and animals. Natural waxes include; Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Candelilla Wax, Genuine Rice Bran Wax, Laurel Wax, and many others of note.
The most common type of animal wax is beeswax. Worker bees form beeswax and honey bees use it to build honeycomb cells. Beeswax is commonly used in candles and cosmetics.Another common animal wax is lanolin, also known as wool wax or wool grease. This wax comes from wool-bearing animals like sheep. Lanolin is used in a variety of applications, from lip balm to rust-proof coatings. Soy wax is another common plant-based wax. It comes from soybean oil. It is commonly used in candles and cosmetics.
In India as per the Government Act i.e., Food Safety and Standard Regulations, natural waxes like candelilla wax, beeswax and carnauba wax are the only permissible food waxes in different fruits and vegetables. In order to determine the composition, the physical and chemical properties need to be known. At FARE Labs, we utilize instruments such as FTIR to determine presence of natural or artificial waxes on fruits and vegetables.
