Trump Claims Coca‑Cola Will Switch to Cane Sugar in U.S. - Company Stops Short of Confirming
- Rahaman Hadisur
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Coca‑Cola products sold in the United States will soon be made with cane sugar, a shift he described as “a very good move.” However, the beverage giant has not confirmed the change, leaving questions about whether the beloved soft drink’s recipe is set to be altered.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying he had personally spoken with Coca‑Cola executives about using cane sugar instead of high‑fructose corn syrup.
“This will be a very good move by them You’ll see. It’s just better!” Trump wrote.
When contacted later by NBC News, Coca‑Cola did not explicitly endorse Trump’s statement.
“We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand,” a company spokesperson said. “More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon.”
The statement leaves it unclear whether Coca‑Cola has formally agreed to reformulate its U.S. products. Currently, Coca‑Cola sold in the United States is typically sweetened with high‑fructose corn syrup, while in markets such as Mexico and parts of Europe, the company often uses cane sugar.
The development comes amid the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, an effort closely tied to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The program has urged food and beverage companies to revisit their ingredients, aiming to cut artificial additives and reconsider sweeteners.
Kennedy himself has criticized the high levels of sugar and processed sweeteners in the American diet and has hinted that updated dietary guidelines, due this summer, will encourage more consumption of whole foods.
Coca‑Cola’s use of corn syrup dates back decades. In 1984, the company announced it would “significantly increase” the amount of corn syrup in its U.S. products, citing cost and supply factors, though it left open the option to use other sweeteners in the future.
Trump, known for his fondness for Coca‑Cola including the infamous Diet Coke button in the Oval Office during both of his terms is positioning the potential switch as a win for American consumers. However, until Coca‑Cola provides more clarity, it remains uncertain whether a reformulation is imminent or simply under discussion.
Industry analysts say any move from corn syrup to cane sugar would be a major change for the brand, one that could affect supply chains, pricing, and taste and would be closely watched by both health advocates and soda enthusiasts in the months ahead.
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