Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover)

Common questions

Is Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover) healthy?

Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover) scores 5/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Coca-Cola Yellow Cap (Kosher for Passover) scores 5/100.

How processed is Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover)?

Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover) is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

How does Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover) compare to other beverages?

Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover) ranks #2 of 10 beverages in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is Honest Kids Organic Apple Juice Drink at 92/100.

Which ingredients drive Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover)'s score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Sugar (Sucrose / Cane Sugar), Caramel Color (Class IV), Phosphoric Acid are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

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Coca-Cola Original Taste (Yellow Cap, Kosher for Passover)

Coca-Cola
5 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 0
Harmful ingredients 4
Owned by The Coca-Cola Company
Category Beverages
Summary

Coca-Cola Yellow Cap (Kosher for Passover) scores 5/100. The only difference from regular Coke is that cane sugar (sucrose) replaces high-fructose corn syrup, removing the GMO-corn / glyphosate-residue concern and slightly improving the metabolic profile. Everything else is identical: still 39 g of added sugar per 12 oz, still Class IV caramel color, still phosphoric acid (linked to reduced bone density and severe enamel erosion at pH ~2.5), still the proprietary 'Merchandise 7X' natural-flavor blend, still added caffeine. Removing HFCS is a marginal improvement, not a health upgrade — sugary-drink consumption at this dose remains causally linked to type 2 diabetes, NAFLD, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Owned by The Coca-Cola Company.

Key ingredients 6

Sugar (Sucrose / Cane Sugar)
Very Bad

Cane sugar replaces high-fructose corn syrup in the Kosher-for-Passover formulation, but the dose is unchanged: 39 g of added sugar per 12 oz — well above the WHO daily limit of 25 g in a single serving. Sucrose is metabolically marginally less liver-damaging than HFCS but still drives type 2 diabetes, NAFLD, obesity, and dental caries (Malik et al. 2010 meta-analysis). Removing HFCS is a marginal improvement, not a health upgrade.

See more about Sugar (Sucrose / Cane Sugar) →
Caramel Color (Class IV)
Very Bad

Ammonia-sulfite process caramel coloring containing 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), classified by California Proposition 65 as a known carcinogen and listed by IARC as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans). Identical to the regular Coke formulation.

See more about Caramel Color (Class IV) →
Phosphoric Acid
Bad

Industrial acidulant that gives cola its signature tang. Independently associated with reduced bone mineral density and higher osteoporosis risk in long-term observational studies (Tucker et al. 2006); also one of the most enamel-erosive compounds in any common beverage (pH ≈ 2.5).

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Natural Flavors
Bad

The proprietary 'Merchandise 7X' Coca-Cola flavor blend. Hidden under the FDA 'natural flavor' loophole, the exact formulation is a trade secret; can include synthetic aroma compounds, propylene glycol carriers, and phthalate plasticizers with zero consumer disclosure.

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Carbonated Water
Neutral

Water with dissolved CO2. Carbonation itself is not a health concern, but as the delivery vehicle for the rest of the formula it doesn't offset any of the harms below.

See more about Carbonated Water →
Caffeine
Neutral

Caffeine is never penalized under doctrine; neutral as an isolated ingredient.

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Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

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