Trump Ignites Debate: Will Coke's Cane Sugar Switch Make it Healthier?
President Donald Trump announced a potential switch by Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in U.S. regular Coke instead of high-fructose corn syrup. However, nutrition experts clarify that this change would not make the soda healthier, as both sweeteners are refined sugars with similar effects on the body, emphasizing that moderation or avoidance of soda is key for health.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Health-GettyImages-1239099323-30991676ea1b48f8a3555d8a9b7b2bcf.jpg)
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 he posted on social media. Trump expressed optimism about the potential change, stating, “This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!” However, the Associated Press reported that Coca-Cola had not yet confirmed this switch, leading to questions about the actual health implications of such a change.
Currently, American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. This refined sugar, like many others, originates from natural sources but undergoes processing that removes other nutrients, leaving behind pure sugar. Historically, Coca-Cola was initially made with cane sugar but transitioned to the more economical high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Interestingly, many other regions globally, including the formulation for Mexican Coke sold in classic glass bottles in the U.S., continue to use cane sugar.
Despite the perception that cane sugar might be healthier, nutrition experts contend that Coke sweetened with cane sugar offers no health advantages over its high-fructose corn syrup counterpart. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, noted that while cane sugar might appear