Latest news with #high fructose corn syrup
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump wants Coca-Cola to bring back real cane sugar in the U.S. But is it really better than high fructose corn syrup?
Coke has not confirmed it will be changing all its American product to feature cane sugar, and instead said it appreciated Trump's 'enthusiasm' for the brand. On Wednesday, President Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to make a bold claim: that the Coca-Cola company has agreed to use only 'REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States.' Other countries, such as Mexico, already use cane sugar in their version of the soda — but the American version of Coke uses high fructose corn syrup, a different type of sweetener that has the same amount of calories. Many people — including, apparently, the president — prefer the so-called Mexican Coke, which, while less common, is also available for purchase in stores and restaurants around the United States. 'It's just better!' Trump wrote in his post. Coca-Cola, for its part, has not yet confirmed Trump's announcement, saying in a statement only that they 'appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand' and that more details on 'new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon.' What is real cane sugar? Why aren't we using it? First, let's explain what 'real cane sugar' means. Cane sugar comes from sugarcane plants and is a natural sugar. High fructose corn syrup, on the other hand, is made from corn. Chemically, the two are slightly different: Cane sugar is made of glucose and fructose bonded together, while high fructose corn syrup has free glucose and fructose mixed separately. Cane sugar fell out of favor for use in food manufacturing about 40 years ago, when then-President Ronald Reagan put a limit on sugar imports, raising the price of domestic sugar. Enter high fructose corn syrup, which was cheaper to produce on U.S. soil. Now high fructose corn syrup is in so many foods for sale in the United States, from Coke to packaged baked goods to some pasta sauces. Even some brands of cottage cheese contain high fructose corn syrup. (And it's important to note that high fructose corn syrup is not the same as the sweet, sticky corn syrup you can find at the grocery store — it's made available only by food manufacturers.) High fructose corn syrup and cane sugar (chemical name: sucrose) may taste very similar, but they are absorbed differently by the body. When you eat sucrose, your digestive system breaks it down into glucose and fructose before they're absorbed into your bloodstream. High fructose corn syrup already contains free glucose and fructose, so your body absorbs them directly without needing to break them apart first. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's secretary of Health and Human Services, has been a vocal critic of high fructose corn syrup. He called it 'a formula for making you obese and diabetic' in a promotional video during his own failed presidential run in 2024. However, this position has placed him at odds with corn farmers, according to the New York Times — many of whom supported Trump in the 2024 election. The Corn Refiners Association warned that removing high fructose corn syrup from U.S. foods could lower corn prices by up to 34 cents a bushel and cost farmers $5.1 billion in revenue, leading to job losses and economic harm in rural communities. But RFK Jr. is far from the first person to demonize high fructose corn syrup, and studies have been done to assess its true risks. Is high fructose corn syrup really worse than cane sugar? Both high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar come with health risks, especially when consumed in excess over time. They can raise blood sugar and contribute to weight gain and inflammation, leading to chronic issues like heart disease and diabetes. Sweetened soda is especially concerning from a health standpoint: A 2025 study found that drinking sugary beverages was linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, more so than consuming sugar within food. High fructose corn syrup, however, may be worse for you than cane sugar — at least, in theory. Because fructose is mainly processed by the liver, ingesting a lot of high fructose corn syrup can put extra stress on the organ, which may lead to the risk of liver problems and other health issues over time. A 2022 study also found that higher high fructose corn syrup intake in young adults led to more fat buildup in the liver and worse insulin sensitivity, both of which increase the risk of liver disease and type 2 diabetes. However, it did not compare high fructose corn syrup with sucrose, so it's unclear if sucrose would have also had the same effect. A 2022 study found that both high fructose corn syrup and sucrose had the same effects on weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar but that high fructose corn syrup caused a small increase in C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation. This could increase the risk of chronic inflammation over time, which may lead to conditions like heart disease, diabetes and other metabolic disorders. More research is needed to know if that difference really matters for long-term health. Some animal studies have raised public concern over high fructose corn syrup, such as a 2024 study that linked high fructose corn syrup to tumor growth and cancer cell acceleration. And a 2010 study from Princeton found that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained more weight than those with access to table sugar even with diets of equal calories. But, again, these studies were not done in humans, so it's unclear what impacts they would have on our bodies. The bottom line More research must be done to assess the true harms of high fructose corn syrup versus cane sugar. What is clear: Diets high in sugar, in general, come with health concerns. Changing Coke's formula, should the company choose to do so, may or may not make a major impact on one's health — but drinking less of the sweet stuff could do your body a service. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump brokers deal for Coca-Cola to use ‘REAL Cane Sugar' in U.S. Coke products
Coca-Cola will soon return to using real cane sugar in its U.S. products after decades of relying on high fructose corn syrup, according to none other than President Donald Trump, who claimed personal credit for brokering the shift. In a social media post, the president called the move 'just better' for American consumers, and also predicted 'this will be a very good move by them,' referring to the Atlanta-based beverage revealed on social media that Coca-Cola has 'agreed to use REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States' after discussions between himself and company leadership. In a statement, a Coca-Cola company 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.' The change is significant—since the mid-1980s, virtually all Coca-Cola sold in the U.S. has been sweetened not with sugar, but with high fructose corn syrup, a less expensive alternative, but a very politically potent one. The commercial production of high fructose corn syrup takes place in Iowa, the top corn-producing state in the U.S. It's been a major product for agribusiness since the 1970s, with companies such as Archer Daniels Midland having key plants in Iowa. They are a big player in Washington, D.C., as is the 'farm lobby,' which refers to a number of institutions that lobby on behalf of farmers' interests. U.S. farm policy—shaped by the farm lobby—subsidizes corn heavily and imposes tariffs and quotas on imported sugar, making high fructose corn syrup the default sweetener for many U.S. food producers. All of these dynamics are reinforced by Iowa's role in presidential politics, with the state being the first presidential caucus in the electoral calendar. When did Coke switch to corn syrup? Coca-Cola's original formula, dating back to its 19th-century origins, used cane sugar as the sweetener of choice. That changed during a period of economic and regulatory upheaval in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Faced with rising sugar prices, prompted in part by U.S. government quotas and tariffs on imported sugar alongside growing subsidies for domestic corn, Coca-Cola began blending corn syrup with sugar in its beverages. The transition was complete by 1984. Even after the 'New Coke' formula controversy and the return of 'Coca-Cola Classic,' the drink retained high fructose corn syrup as its sweetener, not sugar. The cult of 'Mexican Coke' Coca-Cola in other countries—most famously in Mexico and across Europe—has continued to use cane sugar, spawning a cult following for 'Mexican Coke' among U.S. consumers who preferred the original taste. American soda fans have long claimed to notice a difference in beverages sweetened with cane sugar. Imports of 'Mexican Coke,' made with real sugar, became a popular niche item, prompting limited edition 'throwback' sodas using cane sugar to appear periodically. It remains unclear how quickly Coca-Cola will phase in cane sugar nationwide, and it likewise remains unclear how this move fits within Trump's broader use of tariffs, including the tariffs predating his tenure that make sugar imports more expensive than subsidized corn. But it's a major change beyond just a beverage giant's soda recipe. Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fortune has also sent requests for comment to the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. This story was originally featured on
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Trump says Coca-Cola will change a major ingredient
Donald Trump has announced Coca-Cola has agreed to start using cane sugar in its American-made drinks, replacing the high fructose corn syrup that has sweetened the beverage for decades. 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.
Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump Says Coca-Cola Agrees to Use Cane Sugar for Coke in US
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to use cane sugar in Coke beverages sold in the US. Coca-Cola didn't immediately return a message seeking comment. Coke currently contains high fructose corn syrup in the original soda, according to the company's website.
