Latest news with #canesugar
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coke sugar switch 'nutritionally hilarious' according to food science expert
President Donald Trump is claiming that Coca-Cola will replace high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its flagship soft drink. Experts say they're equally unhealthy.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Is Mexican Coke really better than the U.S. version? We put it to the test.
This week, President Donald Trump delivered an out-of-the-blue announcement: He had spoken with Coca-Cola executives, he said, and they had agreed to start making Coke in the United States with cane sugar, instead of with high-fructose corn syrup. There was much to unpack in this declaration — for starters, whether Coca-Cola was actually on board with the move. (The company released a statement thanking the president for his 'enthusiasm' and promised unspecified 'new innovative offerings' in the future.) And, some skeptics wondered, was Trump just attempting to score a win on a popular matter to distract from a particularly tumultuous week, in which even his die-hard supporters are agitated over his handling of the case of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
White House Push for Cane-Sugar Coke Reignites Soda Wars
Mexican Coke could soon lose its elite status at American taquerias. President Trump said Wednesday that the Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to switch from using high-fructose corn sugar in its namesake soda to real cane sugar in the US. Coca-Cola hasn't confirmed the change. As investors prepped for Coke's cane-sugar future, corn syrup producers Archer-Daniels-Midland and Ingredion both saw their shares fizzle. Futures contracts for corn faltered while ones for raw sugar rose. READ ALSO: Uber Paying $300M Fare in Robotaxi Deal and Gaming Platform Roblox Adds Age-Verification to Safeguard Kids Complex Sugars Not everyone agrees with the admin's stance against corn syrup. Coca-Cola said on X that high-fructose corn syrup is safe and 'actually just a sweetener made from corn.' Medical experts haven't found any significant differences between corn- and cane-derived sugar. Big Corn also cobbled together a defense. A trade group representing corn producers said that a swap from corn to cane could cost the US thousands of jobs and hurt farms' income with 'no nutritional benefit.' Corn has been ingrained in the soda biz for decades: Coca-Cola originally switched from using cane sugar to corn syrup in the 1980s to cut costs — cane sugar, which is mainly produced in tropical and subtropical countries, was expensive because of tariffs, while US corn was (and still is) supported by subsidies. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta told CNBC Thursday that sugar costs more in the US than other countries and that a sugar swap hinges on making it less expensive. Today, tariffs are once again driving up the price of sugar. US sugar cost double the global rate last year, the Sweetener Users Association found. Food and beverage companies have already hiked their prices to reflect tariffs, and swapping a main ingredient could mean more increases. Syrupy Slope: Trump himself is a known aficionado of Diet Coke, and his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed for food and beverage companies to nix ingredients like corn syrup, seed oils and artificial food dyes. (Just don't come for aspartame.) PepsiCo yesterday said it will relaunch Lay's and Tostitos with all-natural dyes and flavors next year. Kraft Heinz, Nestlé and General Mills have all pledged to stop using artificial dyes in their products. But phasing out non-natural dyes, which several major food companies said they don't use in the majority of their products, may be easier than ditching corn syrup. This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter. 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
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Donald Trump's push for Mexican Coke could ignite a health nightmare, doctors warn
Americans are always talking about Mexican Coke because it doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup. And President Donald Trump has gotten in on the action, saying he has convinced Coca-Cola to change its recipe back to cane sugar because 'it's just better!'. But now dietitians are weighing in, saying that even if the recipe is changed, the country's most popular soda will be as unhealthy as ever — and it could even leave the drink containing more calories. Dr Marion Nestle, a top nutritionist at New York University, told 'As I have been saying, the switch is nutritionally hilarious. 'Both sweeteners are made of glucose and fructose, taste the same and do the same bad things to metabolism when consumed in excess. 'A 12-ounce Coke has 39 grams of either one. That's excessive. High fructose corn syrup has a bad reputation because it is cheaper and used in loads of ultra-processed foods.' In fact, some experts are warning that Trump's promotion of Mexican Coke could actually make America's obesity crisis worse, as people will see it as a green light to drink more because they think it is healthier. Coca-Cola is the most popular soft drink in the country, with every American drinking an estimated 120 cans of the beverage every year. It has been made using high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s, which is made from processed field corn, although in some countries like the UK and Mexico the drink is still made using the original cane sugar. Coca-Cola is yet to reveal whether it is changing its recipe in response to the president's request, but added that it appreciated his enthusiasm and that more updates would be revealed soon. On the nutrition label, both cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup-sweetened Coca-Colas are virtually identical in terms of calories and sugar content. A standard 355-milliliter bottle of Mexican Coke contains about 150 calories, 39 grams (g) of sugar and 85 milligrams (mg) of salt. For comparison, the same-size bottle of US Coca-Cola made with high fructose corn syrup contains 140 calories, 39g of sugar and 45mg of salt. And dietitians say that studies suggest both have similar impacts on someone's health. Abbey Sharp, a registered dietitian in Canada, told the BBC's The World Tonight: 'In terms of calories, we are looking at exactly the same amount of calories. 'It is true that we have evidence that high levels of fructose, especially in liquid form, as we see in... coke, [are] associated with insulin resistance, fatty liver disease and high triglyceride levels. 'But sucrose, the cane sugar that Trump wants to put into the Coca-Cola is not benign to this eight because... it is 50 percent fructose.' High fructose corn syrup used in soft drinks contains about 55 percent fructose, or a simple sugar the body converts into energy, while cane sugar used in soft drinks is about 50 percent made up of the substance. Over-consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to a higher risk of obesity and associated conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The FDA recommends not consuming more than 1.7 ounces of sugar per day, equivalent to 1.25 Coca-Colas per day. And the American Heart Association says men should consume no more than 1.3-oz or 150 calories of sugar per day while women should consume no more than 0.8-oz or 100 calories of sugar per day, less than one can of Coca-Cola. Asked why people think of Mexican Coke as being healthier, Sharp said: 'I think the villainization of high fructose corn syrup over sucrose has a lot more to do with our appeals to nature fallacy than any really good hard evidence. 'We tend to see cane sugar, which is derived from sugar cane and sugar beets, as more close to nature, to plants, and we see that as more natural than high fructose corn syrup. '[That is] despite the fact that both of these are highly processed and they virtually have the same outcomes on our body and on our health.' She added: 'In fact, I might even argue there is a good possibility that this could do more harm because this is now essentially being promoted as quote unquote a healthier version of coke. 'So people might think that they are being given this green light to drink more of it.' Dr Sandip Sachar, a New York-based board-certified dentist, told 'Both sweeteners, cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup, are nearly identical in their impact on oral health. 'They feed cavity-causing bacteria which leads to acid production that erodes tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Whether the sugar comes from cane or corn, it feeds the same biological process in the mouth. 'There is some evidence that suggests that high fructose corn syrup may be slightly stickier and potentially cause more plaque buildup than cane sugar. But from a clinical perspective, both sweeteners are harmful in similar ways. 'The real issue is continued over consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, regardless of the sweetener.' Trump is a famous fan of Diet Coke, and even reportedly had a red button installed on his White House desk to allow him to quickly request a fresh beverage. Many supporters of the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement have long pressured food manufacturers to use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup in their products. Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy, who does not deny that cane sugar is also unhealthy, has also long spoken out about HFCS as part of his campaign against ultra-processed foods. But despite the HHS and his followers' claims, doctors say that changing the recipe of one of America's most beloved drinks will increase cases of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. According to Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian, cane sugar is nearly 100 percent sucrose - making it the no different from regular table sugar and poses the same dangers to the body. They told CBS News: 'Despite minor differences in chemical structure and metabolism, both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup have similar health impacts when consumed in excess, especially in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda.' A 2022 study found that both HFCS and cane sugar have similar impacts on weight and body composition markers, including waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and fat mass. The study also found similar impacts on cholesterol, triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood) and blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 36 grams or 150 calories of sugar per day while women should consume no more than 25 grams or 100 calories of sugar per day.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Truth About Cane Sugar vs. High Fructose Corn Syrup—And Why It Matters for Your Health
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." President Trump recently suggested Coca-Cola should swap out high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar. Experts say that the two are really not that different, and have similar health impacts. Here's what else the top doctors and nutritionists want you to know. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump suggested on Facebook that he had convinced Coca-Cola to phase out high-fructose corn syrup in its products in favor of cane sugar. "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,' he wrote. '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!" It's clear that high fructose corn syrup isn't, well, great for you. It's been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, among other health issues. Plus, it doesn't look super appealing. In response, more and more companies have started to use more natural forms of sugar in their products, but there are a lot of questions swirling around cane sugar now that President Donald Trump is talking about its perks. But is one actually 'better' than the other? Here's what you need to know about cane sugar versus high fructose corn syrup, according to experts. Meet the experts: Spencer Nadolsky, DO, an obesity and lipid specialist physician; Scott Keatley, RD, of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy; Keri Gans, RDN, is author of The Small Change Diet. What is cane sugar? Cane sugar is fructose (a form of sugar) that's extracted and refined from the sugarcane plant, explains Scott Keatley, RD, of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. 'It is found in everything from baked goods to cereals to beverages, essentially anything labeled with 'sugar,' 'raw sugar,' or 'evaporated cane juice,'' he says. 'It is often sourced from cane.' What is high fructose corn syrup? High fructose corn syrup, on the other hand, is a sweetener made from corn starch, Keatley says. 'There are different formulations, but the two most common are HFCS-42 and HFCS-55, the latter being used most often in soft drinks,' he says. It's often found in soda, condiments, snack bars, sweetened dairy products, and shelf-stable baked goods, according to Keatley. Why are they bad for your health? As with everything, how much of these types of sugar you consume and how you consume it matters. 'Neither product is inherently bad, it's the way we use them which can cause health consequences,' Keatley says. 'Both cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup contribute to excessive calorie intake without nutritional benefit.' Having too much of either one of these products can increase the amount of fat in your blood, mess with how your body processes sugar, lead to fat building up in your liver, and increase inflammation in your body, Keatley says. Is one better for you than the other? Nope, consuming one is not worse than consuming the other, according to Spencer Nadolsky, DO, an obesity and lipid specialist physician. (On X, he hilariously compared exchanging one for the other to "rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.") 'Cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup have very similar clinical outcomes in terms of metabolic health when consumed at similar doses,' he says. 'There doesn't seem to be much of a clinical advantage in terms of metabolic health for either one. Preference is likely dependent on taste.' This is partly because the two aren't that different in molecular makeup. Cane sugar is sucrose, which is a molecule that connects glucose and fructose together, Dr. Nadolsky explains. 'High fructose corn syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose.' If you want to get a little more technical, sucrose is 50/50 glucose and fructose, with the molecules connected, while high fructose corn syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose that isn't connected, he explains. That means the product is made up of about 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose. 'While some feel the sucrose should be better due to the glucose and fructose being connected with slightly less fructose, the studies looking at them don't show meaningful differences in terms of metabolic health,' Dr. Nadolsky says. At the end of the day, Dr. Nadolsky says it's better to limit any and all added sugars in your life, regardless of where they come from. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
