Trump Claims Credit for Coca-Cola’s Sweetener Shift—But the Company Isn’t Backing Off Corn Syrup Just Yet
Coca-Cola is hitting back after Donald Trump claimed victory in convincing the brand to ditch corn syrup in favor of real cane sugar in its U.S. beverages—just like its international versions sold in Mexico and the UK.
“I’ve been talking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in their U.S. drinks, and they’ve agreed,” Trump announced on social media late Tuesday. “This is going to be a great move—you’ll see. It’s just better!”
The beverage giant initially issued a polite nod to Trump’s enthusiasm, teasing upcoming “innovative offerings” in its product lineup without confirming any recipe changes. But by Thursday, Coca-Cola had taken a firmer stance—defending its use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the controversial sweetener many link to America’s obesity crisis.
“The name might sound scientific, but high-fructose corn syrup is simply a sweetener derived from corn,” the company stated. “It’s safe, has about the same calories as table sugar, and your body processes it in a similar way.”
The company also pointed to backing from the American Medical Association (AMA), which has stated that HFCS is no more harmful than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners. Coca-Cola reassured customers: “Our drinks do not contain any harmful ingredients.”
Back in 2023, the AMA clarified its position, saying there isn’t enough evidence to justify banning HFCS or slapping warning labels on products that contain it.
Trump’s sudden dive into the sweetener debate comes while he’s tangled in a separate controversy surrounding the release of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and former associate of Trump.
Ironically, Trump’s own go-to beverage—Diet Coke—doesn’t even contain corn syrup or cane sugar, but aspartame, a low-calorie artificial sweetener. During his first term, Trump famously had a red button installed on his desk that summoned a Diet Coke with a single press.
A shift to cane sugar could significantly shake up the $285 billion U.S. soft drink industry. In Mexico, Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar and is bottled in glass—creating a cult favorite known stateside as “Mexican Coke”, which fetches a higher price than its American counterpart.
The U.S. version switched to HFCS in the 1980s, thanks to federal corn subsidies and steep import tariffs on cane sugar. Reversing course could prove expensive—especially if Trump’s tariffs on cane-sugar-producing nations remain in place.
It’s not the first time Trump has squared off with the Atlanta-based soda giant. He previously called out Coca-Cola over its stance on voting rights in Georgia. But despite past tensions, CEO James Quincey presented Trump with a special Inaugural Diet Coke Bottle ahead of his second swearing-in as president in January.
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"Donald Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use real cane sugar in the U.S.—but the soda giant stands firm on defending high-fructose corn syrup."