Do M&M's Contain Shellac? A Look at Candy Coatings
                                
                                
                                •
                                
                                
                        
                                    
                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                First designed for soldiers in 1941 to prevent melting, M&M's have long maintained their signature colorful and shiny shell. This protective outer layer has often been mistaken for shellac, a natural but insect-derived resin, leading to widespread consumer confusion.