President Donald Trump claims Coca-Cola will switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar in its US beverages, a move he says will improve health outcomes.
The announcement, made via social media, aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign to eliminate ingredients like corn syrup from American diets.
However, Coca-Cola has not confirmed the change, issuing cautious statements about future “innovative offerings.”
Trump’s push follows Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which critiques corn syrup’s role in obesity.
Coca-Cola defends corn syrup, stating it’s safe and comparable to table sugar in calories and metabolism.
The American Medical Association notes insufficient evidence to restrict corn syrup specifically.
In Nigeria, Coca-Cola has faced scrutiny for inconsistent sweetener use, with reports of unnotified formula changes.
A potential shift to cane sugar could align US products with those in Mexico, where cane sugar is standard.
A switch to cane sugar could disrupt the US corn industry.
John Bode, President of the Corn Refiners Association, warns that replacing corn syrup would cost jobs, depress farm income, and increase reliance on imported sugar.
In the 1980s, Coca-Cola adopted corn syrup due to US farming subsidies and tariffs on imported sugar.
Reversing this could raise costs if Trump’s proposed tariffs on sugar-producing nations persist.
Coca-Cola’s CEO, James Quincey, has emphasized ongoing efforts to reduce sugar across its portfolio.
Trump, a frequent Diet Coke consumer, praised the potential change as “just better.”
Coca-Cola’s vague response neither confirms nor denies a recipe shift, leaving consumers and farmers awaiting clarity.
The debate highlights tensions between health advocacy and economic interests in the $285 billion US soft drink market.
As Kennedy plans to update national dietary guidelines, pressure on companies like Coca-Cola may intensify.
Whether this leads to a sweeter deal for consumers or a bitter outcome for corn farmers remains unclear.