Propolis is bee glue, the resin bees use to seal the hive. Like honey and beeswax, it is a product of the colony, so it is off the vegan list.
Made fromHoney bee hive resin
Used inSupplements, throat sprays, balms
VerdictNot vegan
Where it hides
Immune and throat supplements
Lozenges and sprays
Lip balms and ointments
Some natural toothpastes
What it is
Propolis is the sticky resin honey bees gather from trees and mix into a sealant for the hive, sometimes called bee glue.
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Propolis or bee glue is a resinous mixture that honey bees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources.
Marketed for immune and throat support, propolis shows up in tinctures, sprays, lozenges and balms. Because it is gathered from a bee colony, it belongs with honey, beeswax and royal jelly on the not-vegan side, and vegans who avoid bee products avoid it too.
HoneyHoney is made by bees, and bees are animals, so honey is not vegan. Maple syrup, agave and date syrup are the usual swaps.
Royal jellyRoyal jelly is bee food, secreted by workers to raise queens. Like honey and beeswax, it is something taken from a hive, which puts it outside a vegan diet by definition.
Beeswax (E901)Beeswax is a bee product. Worker bees secrete it to build the comb, so the shine on a waxed apple or a sweet, and the base of many a lip balm, comes straight from the hive.
Frequently asked
Is bee propolis vegan?
No. Propolis is made and gathered by honey bees, so like honey and beeswax it is an animal product and not vegan.
Why do some vegans avoid bee products?
Because they come from managed bee colonies. Honey, beeswax, royal jelly and propolis are all products of the hive, so people following the standard definition of veganism avoid them.
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