Is cane sugar better than corn syrup and will Donald Trump's Coca-Cola plan make Americans healthy again?
"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,' the US President wrote on his social media site Truth Social on Wednesday. "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 uses high-fructose corn syrup in Coke sold in the US, but in countries such as Mexico and Australia, as well as in Europe, its drinks are sweetened with cane sugar.
Interestingly, Trump is famously known to favour only Diet Coke, which uses aspartame as a calorie-free beverage. He's such a fan of the drink that he reportedly has a red button installed on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office that he can press to have a White House butler bring one in for him.
But the presidential pronouncement is in line with the government's Make America Healthy Again initiative, which has been pushing food companies to alter their formulations.
Coca-Cola, meanwhile, has not confirmed the shift.
"We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand," a spokesperson said. "More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon."
Coca-Cola has used cane sugar to sweeten their drinks in the US, but shifted to corn syrup in the 1980s.
Is cane sugar healthier than corn syrup?
While cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup are both sugars, the former is generally considered slightly less harmful of the two. This is because corn syrup has a higher concentration of fructose, excessive consumption of which can lead to obesity and health problems such as diabetes.
In countries such as India, sugarcane has been used to make "healthy sugar" jaggery for more than 3,000 years. Made by boiling down sugarcane until it thickens and solidifies, jaggery is not treated with chemicals and retains many of the plant's natural nutrients.
But Trump's announcement could endanger the livelihood of corn farmers in his own country.
'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense," Corn Refiners Association president and chief executive John Bode said in a statement to AP.
"President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers and reducing the trade deficit. 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."
US cane sugar production in the 2025-26 season is expected to account for about 30 per cent of the US sugar supply, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture.
Will the taste of Coca-Cola change?
Trump says cane sugar-sweetened Coke is better, but the difference in taste between a Coke sweetened with cane sugar and with corn syrup is subtle, and is largely down to personal preference.
Cane sugar is known to have a cleaner, bodied taste compared to high fructose corn syrup's lingering sweetness.
Coca-Cola has been importing Mexican Coke to the US since 2005, and it is sold across the country alongside its American-produced drinks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Trump says more hostages to be released from Gaza shortly
Another 10 hostages will be released from Gaza shortly, US President Donald Trump said on Friday, without providing additional details. Trump made the comment during a dinner with lawmakers at the White House, lauding the efforts of his special envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. "We got most of the hostages back. We're going to have another 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that finished quickly," Trump said. Trump has been predicting for weeks that a ceasefire and hostage-release deal was imminent, but agreement has proven elusive. A spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, the Palestinian group Hamas that controls Gaza, on Friday said the group favors reaching an interim truce in the Gaza war, but could revert to insisting on a full package deal if such an agreement is not reached in current negotiations. The truce proposal calls for 10 hostages held in Gaza to be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days. In exchange, Israel would release a number of detained Palestinians. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Almost 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1,200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Reuters
Dubai Eye
11 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
US threatens Mexican airline flights over airline competition issues
The Trump administration said it is taking a series of actions against Mexico over the government's decisions to rescind some flight slots for American carriers and force US cargo carriers to relocate operations in Mexico City. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement the department could disapprove flight requests from Mexico if the government fails to address US concerns over decisions made in 2022 and 2023. The department is also proposing to withdraw antitrust immunity from the Delta Air Lines joint venture with Aeromexico to address competitive issues in the market. Mexico is the most popular international destination among US airline travellers. The Transportation Department said Mexico has not been in compliance with a bilateral air agreement since 2022 when it abruptly rescinded slots and then forced US all-cargo carriers to relocate operations in 2023. Duffy said Mexico was expected to allow construction to alleviate congestion at Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), but that has yet to materialize three years later. "By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of MEX, Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market, and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the department said. The Transportation Department issued a pair of orders requiring Mexican airlines to file schedules with the department for all their US operations and requiring prior US approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights to or from the United States. "Mexico has altered the playing field significantly for airlines in ways that reduce competition and allow predominant competitors to gain an unfair advantage in the US-Mexico market," the department said. "Mexico's actions harm airlines seeking to enter the market, existing competitor airlines, consumers of air travel and products relying on time-sensitive air cargo shipments traded between the two countries, and other stakeholders in the American economy." If the US rescinds antitrust approval for Delta and Aeromexico, they would be required to discontinue cooperation on common pricing, capacity management, and revenue sharing, but Delta would also be able to retain its equity stake in Aeromexico, maintain all of its existing flying in the US-Mexico market unimpeded and continue a partnership.
Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai chocolate spread recalled in US; FDA issues highest risk warning
A US-based specialty retailer has recalled a batch of Dubai chocolate spread over concerns of salmonella contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published the announcement, updating the risk level Class I, their highest level. World Market has recalled the product named Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif due to a potential contamination of salmonella, the announcement on the FDA's site read. The products were distributed between June 11 to July 9, 2025. The recall of the Emek products was first initiated on July 14. Three days later, the FDA updated it to a Class I classification, Newsweek reported. "Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain," the statement said. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. "In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis," it added. The firm initiated the recall after samples of the product were tested by the FDA and the products tested positive for Salmonella. However, no illnesses have been reported to date. The 'Dubai chocolate', a chocolate bar containing a pistachio and kunafa filling, became popular after going viral on TikTok in 2024. The original chocolate bar was created by Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai, but variations have been made by several brands, including Emek Gıda, whose product is the one affected by the current recall. FIX Dessert Chocolatier, a Dubai-based dessert brand founded by Sarah Hamouda, came up with the idea of the pistachio kunafa bar. Chef Nouel Catis, a Filipino dessert specialist, was hired by FIX to help develop the now-viral pistachio kunafa chocolate. Last month, British regulator Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that some Dubai style chocolate being sold in the UK retail market may not meet the country's criteria and may contain banned additives or colouring agents.
