Polyethylene wax

Polymer (polyolefin) produced from ethylene, which has a waxy or fatty consistency due to its low degree of polymerisation. The polyethylene wax is colourless to white, soluble in non-polar solvents and can be emulsified well. The substance can also be synthesized from natural waxes. It represents a cost-effective alternative to natural waxes.

Polyethylene wax is approved in the EU as a food additive under the number E 914.

In food technology, polyethylene wax is often used in a mixture with natural waxes and in combination with antimicrobially active substances for the surface treatment of fresh fruit, e.g. citrus fruits, pineapple, avocados, melons, mangoes, etc.

Fruits treated with polyethylene wax are marked in trade as "waxed".