President Donald Trump recently announced via social media that Coca-Cola had agreed to switch from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar in its regular Coke sold in the U.S., claiming it would be a very good move. However, the Associated Press reported that Coca-Cola has yet to confirm this potential change, raising questions among consumers and health experts alike regarding its actual implications for health.

Currently, American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. This is a refined sugar, meaning it originates from natural sources but undergoes processing that removes other nutrients, leaving behind pure sugar. Historically, Coke was made with cane sugar, but the company shifted to the cheaper high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Interestingly, many other regions globally, including the popular Mexican Coke sold in classic glass bottles in the U.S., still utilize cane sugar.

Despite the perception that cane sugar might be a healthier alternative, nutrition experts largely disagree. They assert that Coke sweetened with cane sugar is no healthier than its high-fructose corn syrup counterpart. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, noted that while cane sugar might seem healthier due to its