Are There Bugs In My Soda?

Most of us know it’s pretty easy to buy kosher food products in the local stores.  It’s usually as easy as looking for an appropriate kosher symbol (called a ‘hecksher’) on the package such as the OU or OK symbols.  One notable exception to this is Sodas.  There is generally not any kosher symbol (at least on the west coast) on the most popular products from companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

So how do I know what’s kosher?  For beverages, we must rely on ‘kosher lists’ that are produced by major supervision agencies.  These agencies keep track of what is under appropriate supervision and list which are acceptable by Orthodox standards.  One of these that is reliable and frequently updated is the CRC (Chicago Rabbinical Council) Kosher Beverage List: http://www.crcweb.org/kosher/consumer/beverageList.html.

You will see most popular sodas listed, but there are some which are not.  For example, what’s wrong with Minute Maid Cherry Limeade?  Lot’s of other Minute

Kashrut Korner

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Beth Jacob of Irvine Newsletter

Maid products are listed as kosher.  The problem is in what the label lists simply as “natural and artificial coloring”.  So what could be wrong with coloring? Some types of red/pink coloring is derived from ‘cochineal’.  Cochineal comes from the crushed bodies of the Cochineal Insect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal).

In Vayikra 11:41-45 we are told we may not consume "sheretz ha-aretz" (swarming insects).  This includes whole insects whether alive or dead and even parts of insects that significantly alter the product which uses them.  Thus, a coloring or dye produced from an insect, such as Cochineal, is not Kosher.  This is why you should consult a reliable Kosher Beverage List before you go shopping.  Otherwise, you may end up with bugs in your soda!

-Amram Phelps

Amram Phelps is the kashrut coordinator for the Irvine Va’ad haKashrut (IVK) and a mashgiach for the Rabbinical Council of Orange County (RCOC).