What we now call "kosher" is a set of laws given to the Jewish people in the Sinai desert more than 4,000 years ago. Ever since, the observance of kosher principles (kashrut) has been a cornerstone of Jewish identity emphasizing that Judaism is more than a religion of the temple, and is instead a way of life that extends to all aspects of a person's experience. At Rocky Mountain Soda we are proud that all of our all-natural sodas are kosher, as well as being vegan and free of GMOs.
The rise of artificial ingredients of suspect origin as well as the complex rules regarding the manufacturing process mean that it is more difficult than ever for soda manufacturers to stay compliant with kashrut laws. In this post, we'll list some non-kosher ingredients often used in soda pop and take a look at the complex issue of kashrut when it comes to heat.
Kosher • Food and beverages that comply with Jewish dietary laws outlined in kashrut, ensuring they are fit for consumption. This includes specific rules about ingredients, preparation, and the separation of meat and dairy.
Kashrut • The set of Jewish dietary laws that dictate which foods are permissible (kosher) to eat and how they should be prepared. Rooted in the Torah, kashrut is central to maintaining dietary observance in Judaism.
Which Fruits and Vegetables are Kosher?
Fruits and vegetables are generally kosher, but certain factors, such as how they are grown, prepared, or processed, can affect their status. Proper washing, inspection, and sourcing ensure they comply with kashrut.
"While it’s true that fruits, in their natural and unprocessed state, are generally deemed kosher, this is not an absolute rule. Certain procedures and laws must be followed for a fruit to maintain its kosher status."
—Heather Martin, Kosherline
Below is a guide to help you determine whether your favorite fruits and vegetables are kashrut.
| Category | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kosher | Apples, bananas, pears, carrots, potatoes | Fruits and vegetables are inherently kosher but require inspection for insects or contamination. |
| Non-Kosher | Produce with visible insects, mold, or grown on non-kosher land (e.g., during shmita in Israel) | Insects are non-kosher, so produce must be thoroughly washed and checked. |
| Require Inspection | Leafy greens (e.g., kale, spinach), broccoli, raspberries, citrus fruits | High risk of insect infestation; detailed inspection or special washing techniques may be required. |
| Processed Foods | Canned or frozen vegetables, dried fruits | Check for kosher certification to ensure no non-kosher additives, like gelatin or grape juice, are used. |
A little extra care in preparation ensures that these staples remain compatible with a kosher diet.
Commonly Used Non-Kosher Soda Ingredients
The issue of kashrut ingredients in soda gets complicated by the fact that many problematic ingredients are often bundled together for the sake of labeling with genuinely kosher ingredients. That said, here are some non-kashrut ingredients that are commonly found in soda pop.
Grapes
By themselves, grapes are given no special consideration in kashrut. That changes, however, when it comes to grape juice and other grape-derived soda ingredients. That's because kashrut dictates that all grape wines, brandy and other forms of grape juice must be prepared under the supervision of an Orthodox Rabbi and that those products cannot be handled by non-Jews. Strict? You bet. But that's what manufacturers must consider if they want their soda to be truly kosher.
Glycerin
All animal fat is non-kashrut. Therefore any glycerin derived from animal fat violates Jewish dietary laws. And while some manufacturers will claim their pop is kashrut because it is vegetable-based the fact is if that vegetable-based glycerin was produced using equipment that had been previously used to process animal-based products it is not kosher.
Certain Vitamins
Vitamins such as riboflavin (vitamin B2) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may seem harmless additives, and indeed they are added to countless soda brands worldwide. But depending on where they are sourced and how and where they are processed they may in fact violate the tenets of kashrut.
Castoreum
You might want to skip to the next ingredient if you have a sensitive stomach. So we'll give you a minute... Still here? Okay, we warned you. A lot of soda pop brands use something called castoreum in their berry-flavored offerings. Castoreum may sound like some type of old-fashioned medicine like paregoric but in reality it is derived from the anal gland of the common beaver. You read that right. If there's castoreum in your soda you're drinking beaver butt secretions. Needless to say, this violates the laws of kashrut.
Some Fountain Sodas
Until recently if a syrup used by a soda fountain was known to be kosher then the resulting soft drink from that fountain could also safely be assumed to be kashrut as well. That's largely because in older fountain machines each soda had a dedicated spout. This ensured that if you ordered a cola you didn't get traces of another flavor in it. More importantly, it helped ensure that kosher and non-kosher syrups did not interact.
Explore Our Wholesale Kosher Sodas
Interested in adding our kosher-certfied sodas to your restaurant's menu? Explore our selection of fountain sodas, cans and bottles available for wholesale order.Order Kosher Soda Wholesale
Recently, however, new fountain soda machines have been popping up in convenience stores that feature a single spout for up to four kinds of syrup. This has seriously clouded the issue of whether the fountain drink you receive is actually kashrut. Exactly why stores would opt for these new machines is unclear, although it likely had something to do with cost, which tends to drive nearly all business decisions. But whatever their reasoning it has made it extremely difficult to determine if your fountain drink is actually kosher.
How to Tell if Fountain Soda is Kosher
When enjoying fountain soda, determining its kosher status involves understanding how the beverage is prepared and served. While many sodas are kosher in bottled form, additional factors come into play with fountain dispensers.
- Look for a Hechsher — Check if the soda syrup used in the dispenser has a kosher certification mark, such as an OU or Kof-K. This ensures the syrup complies with kashrut.
- Verify the Carbonation Source — Ensure the carbonation system uses plain carbon dioxide without additives. Some carbonation sources may include non-kosher processing agents.
- Confirm Kosher Cleaning Practices — Ask if the fountain machine is regularly cleaned with kosher-compliant cleaning agents. Cross-contamination with non-kosher residues can affect the soda's status.
- Avoid Sharing with Non-Kosher Flavors — Verify that the same machine isn’t used for non-kosher flavors, such as syrups containing grape juice without kosher certification.
- Consult a Kashrut Authority — If in doubt, reach out to a reliable kashrut authority to confirm the specific brand and location’s compliance.
Heat and Kashrut
Kashrut dictates that absorption and transference apply to food preparation whether at home, in a restaurant or in manufacturing. Because absorption and transference are typically associated with the application of heat, heating then becomes a significant issue in determining if a soda ingredient is considered kashrut compliant.
Why does this occur? When heating a vessel or cooking utensil, it takes on some of the character of the heated material via absorption. When the vessel is heated again that character is then transferred to any new food product introduced to the vessel or utensil. So if the vessel or utensil was used first to heat non-kosher materials and is then used to heat would-be kosher materials the character of the non-kosher material will be transferred to the new material rendering it non-kashrut.
As a result, when heat is used in processing ingredients, dedicated equipment needs to be used that will absolutely not be used to process other, non-kosher ingredients or materials. If dedicated equipment cannot be secured or is simply not feasible, the existing equipment may be kosherized via a process known as "kashering".
Kashering involves applying intense heat to the vessels or utensils in question under the supervision of a rabbi. The role of the rabbi is to certify that adequate heat was applied to the equipment for a sufficient amount of time to cleanse it of any non-kosher character left over from the previous process. In most instances only metal or glass equipment is eligible to undergo kashering since other materials such as ceramic are considered too porous, meaning they will have absorbed so much of the non-kashrut character so deeply into their fiber that it cannot be removed.
Kashering • The process of making a utensil, appliance, or kitchen suitable for kosher use by removing non-kosher residues. Methods may include boiling, heating, or other purification practices specified in Jewish law.
To learn more about kashering pots and kitchenware, watch the following video below.
Order Our Kosher-Certified Craft Sodas
The topic of kosher ingredients in soda is a complex one that frankly leaves no room for compromise. And with the advent of complex manufacturing processes and soda ingredients of hard-to-trace origins, the matter becomes even further muddled.
All of our natural soda flavors meet the most rigid requirements when it comes to kosher certification with each can carrying the symbol of the Vaad Hakashrus of Denver indicating full compliance. Just for good measure they are also vegan, gluten-free and contain no GMOs.
Visit our online soda shop to explore our selection of kosher-certfied craft soda flavors!
