President Donald Trump recently announced that Coca-Cola had agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in regular Coke sold in the United States, a claim yet to be confirmed by Coca-Cola itself. This announcement, made by President Trump on social media, sparked discussions regarding the potential health implications of such a change. Currently, American Coke is primarily sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a refined liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch.

Historically, Coca-Cola was produced using cane sugar. However, the company transitioned to the more economical high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Despite this change in the U.S., many international versions of Coke, including the popular Mexican Coke sold in glass bottles, continue to utilize cane sugar as their primary sweetener. President Trump expressed optimism about the potential switch, stating, “This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”

However, nutrition experts offer a different perspective on the health benefits of this proposed change. According to nutritionists, Coke sweetened with cane sugar would not be any healthier than its high-fructose corn syrup counterpart. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, explained that while cane sugar might appear healthier due to its “natural” perception, this “halo effect” is misleading. Both cane sugar, derived from sugarcane or sugar beets, and high-fructose corn syrup are refined sugars. They share similar molecular structures, each containing roughly a 50/50 split of the simple sugars fructose and glucose, and are processed by the body in much the same way. Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized that “Our bodies aren’t going to know if that’s cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. We just know that it is sugar and we need to break that down.”

Experts consistently warn that consuming excessive amounts of any refined sugar, whether cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, can lead to significant health risks. These include an increased likelihood of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. Susie succinctly stated, “At the end of the day, it’s added sugar. Those added sugars really do add up.”

Given these considerations, nutritionists generally do not recommend regular soda consumption, regardless of the sweetener used. Moskovitz highlighted that “Whether soda is sweetened with cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, it’s still an empty-calorie, blood glucose-spiking beverage.” Even diet soda, despite its lack of sugar and calories, is not recommended as it provides zero nutritional value. The gold standard for hydration, according to Susie, remains water, with unsweetened tea and sparkling water also being excellent alternatives. For those craving a fizzy drink, Moskovitz suggests seltzer enhanced with a splash of juice or flavored with fresh fruits like berries, oranges, or limes.