The following information from Arlene J. Mathes-Scharf 's excellent Kashrut.com. See
http://www.kashrut.com/Passover/PAlerts/ for this and other Passover-specific alerts.
Cocoa Cola will not be avaiable in California this year due to a quirk in the law that would make the ingredients unacceptable. In Chicago, products produced by Pepsi Cola had two different kosher certifications, the Kof-K and US Kosher, based in California. US Kosher certified products were distributed by independent wholesalers while the company itself distributed the Kof-K products.
Even in states where Coca Cola is available with an OU-P for Pesach, it will only be available in Regular and Diet flavors (not even a Caffeine-Free version). Aside from the New York metropolitan area, Coke will be available in Boston, Baltimore-Washington, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, and Philadelphia. This year, in New York, Coca Cola items will be made with an OU-P in 2 liter bottles.
Pepsi on the other hand is offering Kof-K kosher Passover beverages that included a Caffeine-Free version of regular and diet Pepsi. In addition Pepsi was also producing Passover versions of Seven-Up, Sierra Mist, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Lemon-Lime Seltzer, Mandarin Orange Seltzer and regular seltzer. It was also offering a variety of Dr. Brown’s flavors.
Ed. All brand names are registered trademarks of the respective companies.
According to an article carried by Arutz Sheva headlined The 11th Plague: No Kosher for Passover Coca-Cola in California (see http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154218#.T3IFm2H5A1k, "The company explained, 'The new alternative process caramel required to meet the State of California’s guidelines related to Proposition 65 does not meet the Kosher for Passover requirements. We believe it will in 2013.' ”
The move to modify the ingredient follows on the heels of a threat that bottlers would have to include a "MAY CAUSE CANCER" warning label on "old caramel" drinks sold in California.
ABC News reports that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contends that "A person would have to drink 1,000 cans of soda every single day to hit the threshold risk of animals.""
Dr. Richard Besser, chief health and medical editor for ABC News claims that “You’re more likely to die from diabetes that’s linked to obesity that’s linked to all these sweetened beverages than you ever have to worry about the caramel,” he continued.
If you happen to live in California, you'll now know why "this night is different from all other nights" - no Coca Cola.
חג פסח כשר ושמח
הריני מקבל עלי מצוה עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך, והריני אוהב כל אחד מבני ישראל כנפשי ומאודי
