Sep 2, 2018
"imported" Coca Cola might not be kosher
Rav Landau, Chief Rabbi of Bnei Braq and head of the "Landau hechsher", has issued a clarification about the kashrus of Coca Cola.
It is commonly assumed that Coca Cola is produced under strict regulations form the company and is the same world-wide, so, people assume, no matter where it is produced it will be kosher. Rav Landau says this is not true and people should not assume Coca Cola is kosher, unless it bears actual kashrut certification.
Rav Landau's notice actually refers specifically to Coca Cola from the Palestinian Authority and Coca Cola from Europe.
I once had a can of Coca Cola from the Palestinian Authority (purchased at a kiosk in Bethlehem) and it had no hechsher. I am surprised that Rav Landau says Coca Cola from Europe is a problem - Coca Cola in Europe is neither certified or on any of the many kashrus lists from various organizations there? European Jews do not drink Coca Cola?
Rav Landau says that whoever does not know the secret of the production line can only guess and estimate, but does not really know. He further testifies that the Coca Cola produced under his supervision is produced in a special department with his supervisors present 24 hours a day and is bottled in Bnei Braq under his supervision.
Rav Landau concludes his letter wishing everyone to be saved from stumbling and to have a sweet new year. Coca Cola, considering the amount of sugar it contains, should be a pretty good siman on Rosh Hashana for a sweet year!
Caveat Emptor! with kashrus, assumptions generally do not work. Knowledge is power.
It is commonly assumed that Coca Cola is produced under strict regulations form the company and is the same world-wide, so, people assume, no matter where it is produced it will be kosher. Rav Landau says this is not true and people should not assume Coca Cola is kosher, unless it bears actual kashrut certification.
Rav Landau's notice actually refers specifically to Coca Cola from the Palestinian Authority and Coca Cola from Europe.
I once had a can of Coca Cola from the Palestinian Authority (purchased at a kiosk in Bethlehem) and it had no hechsher. I am surprised that Rav Landau says Coca Cola from Europe is a problem - Coca Cola in Europe is neither certified or on any of the many kashrus lists from various organizations there? European Jews do not drink Coca Cola?
Rav Landau says that whoever does not know the secret of the production line can only guess and estimate, but does not really know. He further testifies that the Coca Cola produced under his supervision is produced in a special department with his supervisors present 24 hours a day and is bottled in Bnei Braq under his supervision.
Rav Landau concludes his letter wishing everyone to be saved from stumbling and to have a sweet new year. Coca Cola, considering the amount of sugar it contains, should be a pretty good siman on Rosh Hashana for a sweet year!
Caveat Emptor! with kashrus, assumptions generally do not work. Knowledge is power.
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There are two issues with coca cola.
ReplyDelete1. The secret formula that supposedly only a handful of people know. In the 1920s, the owner of coca cola heard from his attorney that some people don't drink coke. He was shocked, and had his lawyer bring in his rabbi, and was impressed with rav Tobias tuvia geffen, and gave him the secret formula (there was a minor issue which coke agreed should be changed anyway (its discussed in Rav Geffen's sh"it).
After rav geffen died, rav simcha Elberg https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha_Elberg had the hashgacha. After he died, the OU got it, but they won't say they have the formula.
The formula is only made in Atlanta, for distribution worldwide.
2. Then there's the bottling, which is local. Adding carbonated water, corn syrup (this is where sugar comes in for pesach) and who knows what else.
When I was in China, the Hong Kong rav told me I can't eat anything but coca cola in HK or China proper.
3. The chassidic catering halls in NY area put a sign at each table that the food here is under hashgacha of Rav xxx, except the drinks which are under the OU. That is not permissible anywhere else. Hashgacha on all or nothing.
The "secret formula" is something of a marketing shtick. We know what's in Coke. And no one can (legally) replicate it, because Coke is the only non-drug company allowed to use coca leaf by the US government. (It was actual cocaine originally, but is now a non-narcotic form.)
DeleteIsrael, like most countries outside the US, uses sugar year-round. And of course the Atlanta headquarters dictates what is added.