Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed that Coca-Cola will return to using real cane sugar in its drinks sold in the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he personally convinced the company to make the change, calling cane sugar “just better.” The announcement is being linked to a larger effort by Trump’s administration and Health Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. to reduce the use of ultra-processed ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup in American food products.
While Coca-Cola has not officially confirmed a complete formula change, the company did issue a statement thanking Trump for his enthusiasm and support. It also mentioned that new “innovative offerings” would be introduced soon. Currently, Coca-Cola uses cane sugar in several international markets, including Mexico, the U.K., and Australia. In the U.S., some limited-edition versions, such as those sold during Passover, already use cane sugar.
Trump’s announcement has sparked strong public interest and debate, especially among consumers concerned about the ingredients in soft drinks. However, Coca-Cola’s full intentions remain unclear, and it is yet to be seen whether this change will apply to all U.S. Coca-Cola products.
Trump Declares Coca-Cola Returning to Real Cane Sugar in U.S. Coke Products
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What looks like a minor recipe tweak is actually:
✔️ A health rescue mission for our kids,
✔️ A blow to corporate chemical addiction programs,
✔️ A break in the chain of childhood obesity epidemics,
✔️ A… pic.twitter.com/UpBjfS1kM4
Corn Industry Pushes Back Amid Health Debate
Donald Trump's recent announcement that he received information that Coca-Cola will switch to cane sugar in their U.S. products has the corn industry worried. Farmers and producers who rely on high-fructose corn syrup demand say that this could have a terrible economic impact.
The Corn Refiners Association put out a news release that going away from corn syrup could harm American agriculture, lose jobs, and increase our dependence on imported cane sugar. On a side note, they added that there is evidence that cane sugar is no more healthy than corn syrup, scientifically.
The damage was even noted on Wall Street. Shares of the American supplier of corn-based ingredient supplier Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) dropped right after Trump made his announcement.
This is an indication how even a potential change in a product formula can impact certain economic sectors.
This news comes as a part of a broader push for healthier food in the U.S. Some health advocates are supportive, citing that it could reduce the use of processed ingredients altogether, while others worry there might not be any real health benefit and the potential disruption it could have on one of the largest sectors in American agriculture.