United States President Donald Trump has announced that Coca-Cola will return to using real cane sugar in its U.S.-made soft drinks.
He said the move follows his personal discussions with the beverage giant.
Taking to Truth Social on Wednesday, July 16, Trump wrote, “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.”
He thanked the company’s top executives and called the decision a “very good move,” adding, “You’ll see. It’s just better!”
So far, Coca-Cola has not confirmed the ingredient change.
However, the company responded to Trump’s post with a short statement.
It expressed appreciation for the president’s “enthusiasm” for the Coca-Cola brand. The statement also hinted at upcoming product announcements, saying more details on “new innovative offerings” will be released soon.
While Trump didn’t explain why he pushed for the change, many see the influence of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known critic of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Kennedy has called HFCS a “formula for making you obese and diabetic,” and has vowed to challenge food companies over their use of ultra-processed ingredients.
HFCS became the go-to sweetener in American sodas during the 1980s, largely due to U.S. corn subsidies and sugar tariffs.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola in countries like Mexico has continued to use cane sugar a version many fans say tastes better.
Health-wise, some consumers believe cane sugar is more “natural” or safer.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there’s no scientific proof showing any health benefit over HFCS. A 2018 FDA statement confirmed it was “not aware of any evidence” that cane sugar is safer than HFCS or other sweeteners like honey.
If implemented, this ingredient shift would mark a major change in Coca-Cola’s U.S. production.
It could also signal a broader effort by Trump and Kennedy’s team to fight the dominance of ultra-processed ingredients in American diets.
So far, there’s no timeline for when U.S. Coke products will make the official switch.