Trump says Coca-Cola will change a major ingredient
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Mr Trump wrote: '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.'
'I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola.'
'This will be a very good move by them - You'll see. It's just better!'
Coca-Cola did not confirm a change to its formula but a spokesperson said 'we appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.'
Most Coca-Cola sold outside the US uses cane sugar, including the popular 'Mexican Coke' available in glass bottles.
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak described himself as a Coca-Cola addict and has said the Mexican version of the drink is the best.
The American version has long relied on corn-based sweeteners, a cheaper alternative introduced widely in the 1980s. Medical experts generally say there is little nutritional difference between cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Famously, Mr Trump's favourite drink is Diet Coke. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr recalled Dana White, the chief executive of UFC, telling him that he had 'never seen Trump drink a glass of water '.
In his first term, Mr Trump, had a red button installed on his Oval Office desk so that he could summon a Diet Coke at a moment's notice. It was later removed by his successor, Joe Biden.
In January, Coca-Cola's chief executive presented Mr Trump with a custom-made bottle featuring his name, the date of his inauguration on January 20, and a picture of the White House, a symbolic gesture ahead of his anticipated return to the presidency.
The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of processed food ingredients, particularly under the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. Spearheaded by RFK Jr, the campaign has urged major food and beverage manufacturers to eliminate artificial dyes, seed oils, and high fructose corn syrup from their products.
As a long-time critic of processed foods, RFK Jr warned about the role of added sugars and artificial ingredients in chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes especially in children.
The potential change has sparked backlash from corn industry leaders.
'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense,' said Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode.
'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.'
Mr Trump's home state of Florida is the nation's leading producer of sugarcane, while many of the states most reliant on corn production are key political battlegrounds in the Midwest.
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