Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Use Cane Sugar in U.S. Beverages

Washington, The Gulf Observer: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Coca-Cola has agreed to begin using cane sugar in its beverages for the U.S. market, following discussions with company leadership. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, aimed at encouraging healthier food production standards nationwide.

“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. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.

Coca-Cola, headquartered in Atlanta, responded cautiously, with a company spokesperson stating that details on new product offerings would be shared soon, adding: “We appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand.” However, the company has not confirmed whether it will reformulate its core U.S. beverage line, which is typically sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) rather than cane sugar.

Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar in select markets abroad and offers limited-edition cane sugar products in the U.S., including the popular “Mexican Coke” and Kosher-for-Passover versions.

The announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s renewed focus on food reform under the MAHA initiative, spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and supported by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other Cabinet officials. The initiative has urged food manufacturers to eliminate artificial dyes and re-evaluate harmful ingredients. In a May report, the MAHA Commission identified high-fructose corn syrup as a potential contributor to childhood obesity and other chronic conditions, though medical experts have noted that both cane sugar and corn syrup should be consumed in moderation, with no clear nutritional advantage between the two.

Kennedy has previously emphasized the need to adopt “whole food” diets and indicated that upcoming federal dietary guidelines would reflect that approach.

However, the announcement has drawn criticism from corn industry representatives, particularly in the U.S. Midwest. John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, warned of economic consequences, stating:
“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 boost imports of foreign sugar — all with no nutritional benefit.”

While Florida, Trump’s home state, leads in sugarcane production, the corn industry remains politically influential in Washington. The White House has not yet issued an official statement in response to the announcement.

In addition to proposed formulation changes, the Trump administration has also approved state-level requests to exclude soda from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility, placing increased pressure on beverage companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

As discussions continue, it remains unclear whether Coca-Cola will significantly alter its mainstream offerings or limit cane sugar use to special product lines.