As a food science expert, I can tell you that the composition of jelly beans is typically made from sugar, corn syrup, flavorings, and various coloring agents. However, there is a common misconception that some jelly beans are made with a substance derived from insects. This substance is called shellac, which is secreted by the lac insect and is sometimes used in the coating of candy for a shiny finish. Shellac is not an ingredient in the jelly bean itself, but rather a possible component of the candy's outer coating. It's important to note that not all jelly beans are coated with shellac, and many are made without any insect-derived products.

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The disgusting fact is that shellac, used on jelly beans, is made from the excrement of beetles. In other words, beetle dung, or bug poop! The female lac bug, Kerria lacca, found in the forests of India and Thailand, secretes excrement (poop), which forms a tunnel-like tube on the branches of trees.read more >>