President Donald Trump recently announced on social media that Coca-Cola had agreed to switch from high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to cane sugar in its regular Coke sold in the U.S. Trump lauded 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 yet to confirm any such switch, prompting questions about what this potential change would actually mean for consumers' health, especially from the perspective of nutrition experts.

Currently, American Coke is sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a liquid sweetener derived from cornstarch. This substance is classified as a refined sugar, meaning it originates from natural sources but undergoes processing that removes other nutrients, leaving behind pure sugar. Coca-Cola originally used cane sugar but transitioned to the cheaper high-fructose corn syrup in the early 1980s. Interestingly, many other regions globally still use cane sugar in their Coke formulations; for example, Mexican Coke, often sold in classic glass bottles in the U.S., retains cane sugar as its sweetener.

Despite the popular belief that cane sugar might be a healthier or more “natural” option, nutrition experts unanimously assert that Coke sweetened with cane sugar offers no health advantages over its HFCS-sweetened counterpart. Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, CEO of the NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, explained that while cane sugar may carry a “halo effect” of being natural, this perception does not translate into actual health benefits. Cane sugar, derived from sugarcane or sugar beets, is also a refined sugar.

The fundamental reason for this equivalence lies in their molecular composition and how the body processes them. Both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup have similar molecular make-ups, each containing an approximate 50/50 split of the simple sugars fructose and glucose. Consequently, the human digestive system processes and breaks down both sweeteners in essentially the same way. Caroline Susie, RDN, LD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized this, noting, “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.”

The consensus among health professionals is that the critical factor is the excessive consumption of *any* refined sugar, regardless of its source. Susie warned that consuming too much of any refined sugar can elevate the risk of weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and fatty liver disease. She underscored the point by stating, “At the end of the day, it’s added sugar. Those added sugars really do add up.”

Given these findings, experts generally advise against regular soda consumption. Moskovitz clarified that whether soda is sweetened with cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, it remains “an empty-calorie, blood glucose-spiking beverage.” While diet soda, which contains no sugar or calories, might seem like a slightly better choice, Susie pointed out that neither regular nor diet soda provides any nutritional value. For optimal hydration, water is considered the “gold standard.” Experts also recommend unsweetened tea and sparkling water as healthier alternatives. For those with a strong soda craving, Moskovitz suggests seltzer with a splash of juice or flavored with fresh fruit such as berries, oranges, or limes.