Coca-Cola’s Potential Sweetener Switch Sparks Job Fears Among U.S. Corn Refiners

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

---

Image Source: Meg Hilling, Getty Images

Coca-Cola’s rumored shift from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar is causing alarm across America’s corn belt, with industry leaders warning that such a move could threaten thousands of jobs and upend a vital agricultural market.

President Donald Trump claimed earlier this week that the beverage giant plans to reformulate its flagship sodas to use cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. While Coca-Cola has not officially confirmed the change, the announcement has already rattled corn refiners and sparked significant financial and political concern.

According to the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), which represents U.S. corn syrup producers, the potential switch would severely impact the livelihoods of farmers and workers in states heavily dependent on corn refining.

“There are about 10,000 people working in corn refining,” said John Bode, president and CEO of the CRA. “One-third of the corn refined goes for making high-fructose corn syrup. If we eliminate that use, it’s going to have a very substantial effect on at least a third of the production probably significantly more of the corn refining industry. That’s thousands of jobs.”

The economic stakes are particularly high for Midwest farming communities, which rely heavily on demand from major food and beverage manufacturers. The industry fears that reduced consumption of high-fructose corn syrup could trigger ripple effects across supply chains, from farming operations to processing plants.

Despite the controversy, nutrition experts note that the debate over cane sugar versus high-fructose corn syrup is largely about perception rather than health benefits. The American Medical Association states that there is no significant nutritional difference between the two sweeteners, though it cautions against consuming either in excessive amounts.

Trump’s announcement has revived a decades-long rivalry between the sweeteners one that has periodically flared up in both trade and consumer markets. Share prices for several publicly traded corn-syrup producers reportedly dipped sharply on Thursday following the news.

As of now, Coca-Cola has declined to comment on whether it will indeed alter its recipe. Industry analysts say the company could be weighing consumer preferences, cost structures, and international supply chains before making any final decision.

For the thousands of workers and farmers whose livelihoods depend on corn refining, however, the uncertainty alone is enough to cause deep concern. “This isn’t just about what’s in a soda can,” Bode said. “It’s about the backbone of American agriculture and the communities built around it.”