President Donald Trump recently announced on social media that Coca-Cola had agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with cane sugar in regular Coke sold in the United States. This declaration, shared on a Wednesday, was met with President Trump's positive endorsement, stating, “This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!” However, according to the Associated Press, Coca-Cola had not yet confirmed this significant switch at the time of the announcement, raising immediate questions among health professionals and the public alike regarding the actual health implications of such a change.

Currently, the standard American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. HFCS is classified as a refined sugar, meaning it originates from natural sources but undergoes processing to strip away other nutrients, leaving behind pure sugar. Historically, Coca-Cola was initially formulated with cane sugar. However, in the early 1980s, the company transitioned to HFCS, primarily due to its lower cost. Interestingly, many regions globally continue to use cane sugar in their Coca-Cola products, a notable example being Mexican Coke, which is often imported and sold in classic glass bottles in the U.S.

Despite the perception that cane sugar might be a healthier alternative, nutrition experts largely disagree. They assert that Coke sweetened with cane sugar offers no significant health advantage over its HFCS-sweetened counterpart. In fact, the two sweeteners are molecularly quite similar. Cane sugar, sourced from sugarcane or sugar beets, is also a refined sugar. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, explained to Health that while “Cane sugar on the surface may seem healthier because it’s ‘natural,’ this halo effect stops there.” Both sweeteners possess a roughly 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, further clarified 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.”

Consequently, the underlying issue is the consumption of refined sugar itself, regardless of its specific source. Susie highlighted that ingesting excessive amounts of any refined sugar can elevate the risk of various health problems, including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. “At the end of the day, it’s added sugar,” she stated, emphasizing that “Those added sugars really do add up.”

Given these health considerations, experts generally advise against regular soda consumption, whether it contains cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Moskovitz stressed 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, which contains no sugar or calories, is not highly recommended by experts. Susie pointed out that “Soda — regular or diet — provides zero nutrients.” For optimal hydration, water remains the gold standard. Susie also suggests unsweetened tea and sparkling water as healthier alternatives. For those craving a soda, Moskovitz recommends seltzer with a splash of juice or flavored with fresh fruits such as berries, oranges, or limes, as a more beneficial option.