dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman) (07/19/83)
eisx!jeb was asking why rabbinic supervision is needed for Diet Coke. In today's modern world, it's amazing the number of additives which go into products which can have their origin in animal products. The current issue of the Kashruth Directory of the Canadian Jewish Congress lists the following commonly-used additives and ingredients to products which may make the product non-kosher unless there is Rabbinic supervision: cream of tartar (obtained from wine barrel sediments) emulsifiers flavourings (may include grape or other non-kosher ingredient) gelatin (is of animal origin [ground-up horse bones - DS]) glycerides (obtained from vegetable and animal sources) lactic acid (may may an apparently pareve product dairy) polysorbates rennet and pepsin (non-kosher ingredient in almost all cheeses) shortening (often animal-based) softeners (may be of animal origin) sorbitan monostearate (may be of animal origin) stabilizers stearates (calcium and magnesium stearates - from animal fatty acids) vegetable oil (may be processed in non-kosher equipment or contain vegetable shortening small amount of non-kosher oil) whey There are other, less commonly-used additives which have the same problem. So observant Jews who are careful about keeping Kosher will only buy products which are under supervision, or which have no additives (e.g., most, including myself, will buy pure orange juice, shredded wheat, or canned vegetables which have nothing added besides water and salt). Kosher for Passover is a whole different story. The laws for Passover are far stricter, and require not even a crumb of leaven in the product. So, for example, Coke (which many people will buy even without supervision during the year) must have supervision for Passover. If, for example, a workman who was running the Coke production line was eating a sandwich an some of the crumbs fell into a huge vat of Coke, the entire vat would be "chometz", or not Kosher for Passover. (During the rest of the year, this would not be a problem as long as the quantity was below a certain level and the addition of the non-kosher ingredient was unintentional.) Dave Sherman Toronto