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Why Coca-Cola in America may soon taste like the one in India
US President Donald Trump sips Diet Coke from his wine glass after a toast, during a luncheon for world leaders at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US, September 25, 2018. File Image/Reuters
United States President Donald Trump has announced that Coca-Cola will begin using real cane sugar in its US beverages, replacing the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that has dominated domestic soda production since the mid-1980s.
The move, according to Trump, came after direct discussions with company executives and aligns with broader health goals set by his administration.
'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 on Wednesday.
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'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!'
The beverage company offered a guarded confirmation of the development. '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,' a company spokesperson said.
However, key details — including how quickly cane sugar would be introduced or whether HFCS would be entirely phased out — remain unclear.
This announcement positions the Trump White House directly within one of the most enduring debates in American nutrition and food policy: the role and health impact of various types of sweeteners, particularly — HFCS versus cane sugar.
Trump's fondness for Diet Coke — which contains aspartame rather than either sugar or HFCS — is no secret.
A White House staff member from the presidential food service pours a Diet Coke for US President Donald Trump before the start of a luncheon for world leaders at the United Nations during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US, September 25, 2018. File Image/Reuters
In January, Coca-Cola presented him with a commemorative Diet Coke bottle.
The US' desire for 'Mexican Coke'
Coca-Cola's original formula used cane sugar as its sweetening agent, a practice that was consistent well into the 20th century.
But during the late 1970s and early 1980s, certain factors led to a transformation in how American beverages were sweetened.
A rising global sugar market, US government quotas and tariffs on imported sugar, and expanding subsidies for domestic corn created an environment where HFCS emerged as a cheaper alternative.
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By 1984, Coca-Cola had fully transitioned to using HFCS in the United States.
While the controversial 'New Coke' product came and went during the 1980s, the return of 'Coca-Cola Classic' did not mark a return to cane sugar.
Instead, HFCS remained the standard sweetener in the US, even as cane sugar continued to be used in Coca-Cola products sold internationally.
In countries like Mexico, where sugar tariffs are less restrictive and corn subsidies are not as entrenched, Coca-Cola retained its original cane sugar formula.
Over time, 'Mexican Coke' became a sought-after product in the US for consumers who perceived it to have a superior taste.
The glass-bottled, cane sugar–based soda developed a cult following, with limited-edition 'throwback' versions occasionally launched domestically.
The preference for cane sugar has even influenced niche markets like kosher food.
Coca-Cola's Kosher for Passover version, easily identifiable by its yellow caps, uses cane sugar instead of HFCS to meet religious dietary restrictions.
How the US corn lobby will be affected
Trump's intervention has broader ramifications that reach beyond beverage formulation. HFCS is derived from corn, an industry heavily concentrated in the Midwestern states of Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska.
These states are key players in both agricultural policy and presidential politics. Iowa, in particular, holds disproportionate influence due to its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses.
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Corn refiners like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Ingredion have benefitted from decades of farm subsidies and favourable legislation.
The announcement by Trump caused immediate ripples in financial markets, with shares of ADM and Ingredion dropping by 6.3 per cent and 8.9 per cent, respectively, in after-hours trading.
Meanwhile, the US sugar trade is governed by a tariff quota system that restricts the amount of sugar imported duty-free, keeping prices for domestic sugar higher and supporting sugar growers, particularly in Florida and Louisiana.
This system complicates any wholesale shift from corn-based sweeteners to imported cane sugar, which remains more expensive on the US market due to these trade barriers.
How dependent is the US on sugar imports
In 2023, the United States imported 722,651,000 kilogrammes of raw cane sugar from Mexico alone, valued at $570.8 million, making Mexico the largest source of US cane sugar imports that year.
The US also received significant sugar imports from countries including Brazil, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and others.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, the total amount of sugar imported during the 2022–23 fiscal year reached 3.61 million tonnes, representing roughly 26.8 per cent of total sugar use in the country.
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US sugar demand was projected to hit 12.56 million tonnes in 2024, with domestic production estimated at 9.22 million tonnes.
This gap reinforces America's role as one of the largest sugar importers globally, even while remaining a top-five producer.
The anticipated carryover of 1.72 million tonnes suggests a stable stocks-to-use ratio of around 13.5 per cent, which is within the USDA's target range of 13.5 per cent – 15.5 per cent.
Any structural shift to more cane sugar–based production would inevitably place additional pressure on these trade flows.
'Make America Healthy Again'
Trump's announcement complement the broader goals of his Health and Human Services Department under US Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has launched a campaign under the slogan 'Make America Healthy Again.'
This initiative seeks to tackle chronic illness through changes to food, water, and environmental safety, with a particular focus on reducing exposure to synthetic additives and processed ingredients.
According to a March press release from HHS, the initiative aims to 'end America's epidemic of chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins.'
Although Kennedy has condemned HFCS in the past, he has also expressed general opposition to sugar consumption. 'Sugar is poison,' Kennedy stated at a public event earlier this year, declining to distinguish between sources such as cane or corn.
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This public health campaign recently notched a major agreement with 40 American ice cream producers, including Turkey Hill and Schwoeppe Dairy, who committed to phasing out petroleum-based artificial food dyes like Red No. 3, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and others by the end of 2027.
Collectively, these producers account for over 90 per cent of the ice cream sold in the US.
Despite these developments, the science on HFCS versus cane sugar remains inconclusive.
A December 2023 article from Healthline noted that both sweeteners have 'similar effects on a person's health,' and that both are potentially harmful when consumed in excess.
This undercuts the perception that a shift from HFCS to cane sugar is automatically a health win for consumers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom reacted sardonically on X, posting: 'Oh thank god! I've totally forgotten about the Epstein files now!'
This was a reference to the controversy surrounding the Trump administration's previous vow to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
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Earlier this month, federal authorities reversed its position saying that there was no list of high-profile individuals suspected to have been involved in Epstein's crimes.
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