Recent claims from President Donald Trump have sparked widespread discussion regarding a potential shift in the Coca-Cola Company's formula for its regular soda in the U.S. According to Trump's social media posts, Coca-Cola has agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with cane sugar. While the President lauded this as a "very good move," Coca-Cola has yet to officially confirm any such change, leaving consumers and health experts to ponder the true implications.

Currently, regular Coca-Cola in the United States is primarily sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. This refined sugar, despite its natural origin, undergoes significant processing that strips away other nutrients, leaving behind pure sugar. Historically, Coca-Cola was indeed made with cane sugar. However, in the early 1980s, the company transitioned to HFCS, largely due to its lower cost. Interestingly, many other regions globally, including Mexico (known for its "Mexican Coke" sold in classic glass bottles in the U.S.), continue to use cane sugar as their primary sweetener.

The central question arising from this potential switch is whether cane sugar offers any discernible health advantages over high-fructose corn syrup. According to leading nutrition experts, the answer is a resounding no. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group, explained that while cane sugar might carry a "natural" halo effect, this perception is unfounded from a nutritional standpoint. Both cane sugar, derived from sugarcane or sugar beets, and high-fructose corn syrup are refined sugars. They possess remarkably similar molecular compositions, each consisting of an approximate 50/50 split of the simple sugars fructose and glucose. Consequently, the human body processes and digests both sweeteners in virtually the same manner.

Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized this point, stating, "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." She further cautioned that the consumption of excessive amounts of any refined sugar carries significant health risks, including an increased likelihood of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. "At the end of the day, it’s added sugar," Susie concluded, highlighting that "those added sugars really do add up."

Given these expert insights, the broader question for consumers remains: Should one be drinking soda at all? Nutritionists generally advise against regular soda consumption, irrespective of the sweetener used. Moskovitz unequivocally stated that "Whether soda is sweetened with cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, it’s still an empty-calorie, blood glucose-spiking beverage." Susie reiterated that both regular and diet sodas offer "zero nutrients." Experts consistently advocate for water as the gold standard for hydration. For those seeking alternatives, unsweetened tea, sparkling water, or seltzer with a splash of fruit juice or infused with fresh fruits like berries, oranges, or limes, are recommended as healthier and more beneficial choices than traditional soda.