Latest news with #Robert F. Kennedy Jr
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump says Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in namesake beverage
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola agreed to use cane sugar in its namesake soda in the U.S., but the beverage giant stopped short of confirming his claim. '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, a fan of Diet Coke, said in a social media post on X.'This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' A Coca-Cola spokesperson, when asked about Trump's post, said the company appreciated the president's 'enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand." They added that 'more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.' For four decades, Coca-Cola sold in the U.S. has generally been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. Coke in some countries, such as Mexico, uses sugar. The Atlanta-based CPG company imports Coke from Mexico to the U.S. for consumers who prefer the taste or who view sugar as a more natural ingredient. Coca-Cola's original formula, which dates back to the late 1800s, used cane sugar as its sweetener. The company switched to high-fructose corn in the early 1980s amid elevated costs for sugar. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously criticized high-fructose corn syrup as 'a formula for making you obese and diabetic.' Kennedy, who has vowed to 'Make America Healthy Again,' has also pushed food companies to remove artificial colors from their products. John Bode, president and CEO of The Corn Refiners Association, said in a statement that replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar 'doesn't make sense.' It 'would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,' Bode said. Recommended Reading Coca-Cola's BodyArmor enters rapid hydration with first major product launch in 2 years Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in Coke sold in US, Trump says
The Coca-Cola Company has agreed to use cane sugar in its namesake drinks in the US, according to US President Donald Trump. In a post on social media outlet Truth Social yesterday (16 July), Trump said: "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 company's classic Coca-Cola Original drink is made with high-fructose corn syrup in the US. The product is made with sugar in countries including the UK and Australia, while it contains cane sugar in Mexico. Trump added: "This will be a very good move by them. You'll see. It's just better!" A brief statement on the Coca-Cola website read: "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.' There has been increasing scrutiny of the recipes of food and drinks sold in the US since President Trump took office earlier this year. US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused the country's food and beverage sector of 'poisoning' the American population. He has also taken aim at the use of high-fructose corn syrup, describing the ingredient as "just a formula for making you obese and diabetic". High-fructose corn syrup is a common ingredient in many soft drinks brands in the US, such as Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper. Trump's comments on Coca-Cola's alleged reformulation plans have not been so well received by those producing the corn syrup ingredient. John Bode, CEO and president of the Corn Refiners Association, said: "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense. "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.' "Coca-Cola to use cane sugar in Coke sold in US, Trump says" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Trump says Coca-Cola to switch to cane sugar in US
WASHINGTON: Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its US production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday (Jul 16) on social media. The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages - a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement. "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 wrote on his Truth Social platform. "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 US president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favourite beverage, Diet Coke. Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink. Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift. "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," the company said in a short statement. HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar. Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump. Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios - 55/45 in soft drinks - while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together. These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes. A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health. The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels. Despite this, Mexican Coke - which is made with cane sugar - is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more "natural" flavour.
