Kosher Coke 'flying out of the store'

ByABC News
April 8, 2009, 5:21 PM

ATLANTA -- They sit in the middle of the expansive kosher section inside an area Kroger supermarket. Two-liter bottles of kosher for Passover Coke and they're quickly disappearing from the shelves.

"They're quite popular not just with Jews, but non-Jews as well," said Rabbi Alan Schwartz.

The reason Coca-Cola uses sugar to sweeten the beverage instead of the normal fructose corn syrup. It's how Coke was made years ago and for many it's the taste they prefer.

"It's been flying out of the store," said Schwartz.

During Passover the Jewish custom is not to eat any foods that have any leavening in them or any leavening agents. That includes corn. The special batch of Coke and several other beverages that qualify as kosher for Passover have to be run on a special production line and a rabbi oversees the whole process.

Kosher for Passover Coke is usually only in stores around Passover time, so many non-Jewish fans take the opportunity to stock up on it saying they like the "original taste." Others, including Coca-Cola, believe there's no significant difference in the taste.