Trump Says Coca-Cola Will Switch to Cane Sugar in U.S. Products
Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Coca-Cola will begin using real cane sugar in its American beverages, replacing the high-fructose corn syrup commonly used in its current recipe.
Trump made the statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. This will be a very good move by them – You’ll see. It’s just better!”
While Coca-Cola has not confirmed a full formula change, a company spokesperson responded diplomatically, saying, “We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.”
The potential recipe shift comes as part of a broader push by Trump’s Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has criticized the widespread use of processed ingredients in American food and beverage products, including high-fructose corn syrup. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative calls for the removal of corn syrup, seed oils, and synthetic additives, linking them to chronic health issues.
Coca-Cola’s recipe varies by region. While American Coke is sweetened with corn syrup, versions sold in countries like Mexico, the UK, and Australia typically use cane sugar, often praised by consumers for its taste.
In an earnings call earlier this year, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said the company continues to reformulate products to reduce sugar content globally, citing efforts to innovate while still appealing to consumer preferences.
However, the reported change is not without controversy. The Corn Refiners Association issued a sharp response, warning that a move away from corn syrup could jeopardize American jobs and reduce farmer income. “Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,” said the association’s president, John Bode.
Despite his support for cane sugar, Trump is known to be an avid Diet Coke drinker, reportedly installing a special button in the Oval Office during his presidency to request the beverage on demand. Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame, a controversial artificial sweetener that is also under growing public scrutiny.
Whether Coca-Cola will overhaul its flagship formula for the U.S. market or introduce a parallel cane sugar product remains unclear. But the conversation around ingredients and public health is heating up – and the company now finds itself at the center of it.
