Trump touts Coke cane sugar move amid food policy push
"I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump posted on Truth Social. "I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola."
Coca-Cola currently uses high-fructose corn syrup in most of its U.S. drinks, while it relies on cane sugar in some overseas markets. A company spokesperson said Coca-Cola would share more details on new product offerings soon and welcomed the president's support.
The shift aligns with the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, a health policy push spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The initiative has urged food companies to revise product formulations, including removing artificial dyes and cutting added sugars.
Kennedy has also been critical of excessive sugar consumption in American diets and previewed upcoming federal dietary guidelines that encourage eating "whole food."
A May report by the MAHA Commission linked high consumption of high-fructose corn syrup to childhood obesity and other chronic health conditions. Still, many medical experts say the health impact of cane sugar and corn syrup is broadly similar, as both are forms of added sugar.
The proposed change drew pushback from corn producers, particularly in the Midwest, where corn syrup production is concentrated.
"Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit," said John Bode, president of the Corn Refiners Association.
Trump's home state of Florida is the top sugarcane producer in the U.S.
As part of broader food policy changes, the Trump administration has also allowed some states to remove soda from SNAP benefits, putting added pressure on beverage companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
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