A halachic storm has erupted across Europe just days before Pesach, centered on the kashrus of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. At the heart of the debate are two rabbanim with sharply opposing views, one permitting the drinks for Pesach consumption in Ukraine, and the other warning that they may contain chametz gamur.
The longstanding halachic debate over Coca-Cola and Pepsi’s kashrus status resurfaces almost every year, but this Pesach, 5785, it has reignited with fresh intensity. Rabbi Avraham Kornick of London, a senior mashgiach under the supervision of the Landau hechsher, released a strongly worded letter and voice message asserting, “Anything not produced specifically for Eretz Yisrael under the Landau certification is absolute chametz.”
The uproar followed the publication of a Pesach product list by Rabbi Yaakov Jan, head of the kashrus agency in Uman, Ukraine. His list declared that Coca-Cola and Pepsi sold in Ukraine are suitable for Pesach, with the only concern being the presence of kitniyos—a stringency for Ashkenazim who are meticulous in this regard.
Rabbi Kornick, who is regularly stationed at the Coca-Cola flavoring plant in Ireland, responded with alarm, launching a full-throated public rebuke. “I cannot fathom how a respected rav who purports to head a kashrus organization in Uman and Ukraine can publish a list of Pesach-approved products,” he said. “To write that Coca-Cola and Pepsi are kosher for Pesach? That’s nothing less than causing innocent Jews to stumble! These products pose a real concern of chametz gamur!”
He explained that only the shipments designated for Israel are produced under full-time supervision. All other flavoring compounds produced in the Irish facility for distribution across Europe, including Ukraine, he claimed, are completely unsupervised and may contain wheat-based additives.
Rabbi Jan did not remain silent. His response, issued through the Ukrainian kashrus division, was sharp and personal. “The writer is brazen and insolent! If he had any yiras Shamayim, he would have reached out to me to ask why I permitted it and we could have discussed it like talmidei chachamim. Clearly, this man is either an am ha’aretz or carries a grudge against me, and that’s why he chose such a disgraceful way to express himself.”
Rabbi Jan stood his ground, insisting that there is absolutely no concern of chametz. At most, he said, one could argue there is a kitniyos issue, which in his view is a non-issue due to its nature as a stringency and the pre-Yom Tov bitul. “There are lenient opinions and stringent ones,” he wrote. “The only issue with cola is a potential concern of kitniyos. Since this is a minhag of chumrah and the ingredients are nullified before Pesach, there is no concern of chametz whatsoever.”
He added that his position is based on clear halachic standards. “He speaks nonsense. With Hashem’s help, I hope to publish a written explanation for anyone who wishes to understand. Only time limits what the heart wishes to share.” He concluded with a blessing: “May we all merit to partake of the korbanos in the Beis HaMikdash together, speedily in our days. Amen.”

{Matzav.com}