On Wednesday afternoon, July 16, President Donald Trump announced that Coca-Cola has agreed to begin using real cane sugar in its soda products sold in the United States.
"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," Trump posted on Truth Social. "I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!"
A Coca-Cola spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that the company will soon share more details about new offerings and added that they appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for the brand.
Currently, Coca-Cola uses high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in most of its U.S. products, while cane sugar is the sweetener of choice in many international markets, according to Reuters.
Trump’s announcement aligns with his administration’s broader push to reform the food industry, particularly in support of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s initiatives to phase out certain food additives, including artificial dyes. Under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, the administration aims to reduce chronic health issues such as obesity and heart disease by addressing harmful ingredients in the American food supply.
In a report released in May, the Trump-established MAHA Commission suggested that widespread consumption of high fructose corn syrup could be a contributing factor in rising childhood obesity rates and other health concerns.
While most health experts agree that added sugars should be limited in the diet, research has not shown a significant nutritional difference between cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
Critics of the move include the Corn Refiners Association, whose president and CEO John Bode said, “Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn’t make sense. It would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and increase imports of foreign sugar — all with no added nutritional benefit.”
Coca-Cola’s decision comes amid increasing debate over the food industry’s role in public health and the economic implications for agricultural producers. Trump’s home state of Florida remains the top sugarcane producer in the U.S., while corn growers—primarily based in the Midwest—have historically had strong political influence in Washington.
