US President Donald Trump has announced that Coca-Cola will begin using real cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its US-made soft drinks, following discussions he said he personally led with the company.

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

Calling it a “very good move,” Trump added, “You’ll see. It’s just better!”

While Coca-Cola has not confirmed the ingredient shift, the company responded to Trump’s announcement with a brief statement, saying it appreciated “the president’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand.” It also hinted at upcoming developments, noting that “more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.”

Trump, a known fan of Diet Coke, did not elaborate on why he pushed for the change in the original Coke formula. However, his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been a vocal critic of HFCS and ultra-processed foods. Kennedy has described HFCS as “just a formula for making you obese and diabetic” and has pledged to take on food manufacturers over ingredients not commonly found in home kitchens.

High-fructose corn syrup, made from corn starch, became the standard sweetener in American sodas in the 1980s due to its lower cost, which is driven by US corn subsidies and sugar import tariffs. However, Coca-Cola still uses cane sugar in several international markets, including Mexico, where the local version of Coke is popular for its taste.

Although many consumers perceive cane sugar as the healthier or more “natural” option, scientific consensus remains unclear. A 2018 fact sheet from the US Food and Drug Administration stated that it was “not aware of any evidence” suggesting a difference in safety between HFCS and other sweeteners like sugar or honey.

If implemented, the change would mark a significant shift for Coca-Cola’s US production and may signal a broader effort by the Trump administration to target ultra-processed ingredients in the American food supply.

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