Latest news with #MAHA
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Touts Cane Sugar Coke as MAHA Win: Live Updates
Coca-Cola announced that it will begin distributing a version of its signature soft drink, made with cane sugar, in the U.S., sparking debate over health benefits and potential political influence. The move comes after President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. credited the decision to the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative. What to Know: Coca-Cola will offer a cane sugar–sweetened version alongside its current formula, which contains high-fructose corn syrup. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy claim credit for the shift, linking it to their MAHA campaign. Health experts say cane sugar and corn syrup have nearly identical metabolic effects and pose similar health risks. Critics argue that the change is merely political theater, distracting from broader public health rollbacks, including cuts to food safety and pollution protections. Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
LeMonde
6 hours ago
- Health
- LeMonde
Trump urges Coca-Cola to use cane sugar, sparking backlash from Midwestern corn producers
Would you rather have corn syrup or cane sugar? That question has been on Americans' minds since Coca-Cola confirmed on Tuesday, July 22, that it would now produce a portion of its sweetened beverage using cane sugar in the US market. Donald Trump, a well-known fan of Diet Coke – which substitutes regular sugar with aspartame – spilled the beans on July 16, praising the shift by the Atlanta-based company. "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," the president said in a message posted on his Truth Social platform. "This will be a very good move by them – You'll see. It's just better!" High-fructose corn syrup has come under fire from Trump and his health secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., who has made the fight against junk food his top priority. "MAHA wins," Kennedy posted on X on July 19, referencing the acronym MAHA – modeled after Trump's MAGA ("Make America Great Again") – which stands for "Make America Healthy Again." But is that really true? Kennedy declared in April: "Sugar is poison." No one disputes this in a country plagued by endemic obesity, and all experts agree that it's necessary to reduce sugar consumption. "What makes soda unhealthy is that it's liquid sugar, providing empty calories with no nutritional benefits. Swapping one type of sugar for another does nothing to make soda healthier," Eva Greenthal, a researcher at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told CNN.
The Hill
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
MAHA group makes hefty pitch backing Trump and RFK Jr.'s health agenda
MAHA Action, a nonprofit that backs the Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, has launched a six-figure ad campaign backing President Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts. 'President Trump and Secretary Kennedy have shown incredible courage in taking on powerful interests and putting the health of American families first,' MAHA Action president Tony Lyons said in a statement. 'This is our way of saying thank you for their leadership and ensuring Congress knows that the American people, that millions of MAHA moms and advocates are behind these critical reforms.' 'MAHA Action will amplify the voices demanding an end to the corruption that has led to the chronic disease epidemic, to an existential health crisis,' he added. MAHA Action is spending more than half a million dollars on the campaign to promote the Trump administration's health agenda across cable television and social media platforms through Aug. 12, according to organizers. One ad MAHA Action released touts efforts to promote 'real food' and bust the causes of chronic illnesses. 'MAHA isn't about politics, it's about people standing up to say 'enough,'' the ad states. Kennedy, who previously sought the Democratic presidential nomination before running as an independent and eventually ditching his campaign to endorse Trump, promoted the play on the president's 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) movement with a health focus ahead of the 2024 election. Since becoming Trump's top health adviser, former environmental lawyer Kennedy has advocated for the removal of food dyes and additives and promoted additional research into autism, among other endeavors. The President's Commission to Make America Healthy Again released an initial report in May that studied childhood chronic diseases. That report identified four top factors that it said are hurting American children: ultraprocessed foods, environmental chemicals, digital behavior and 'overmedicalization.'
Axios
21 hours ago
- Health
- Axios
Here's how Coke using sugar instead of corn syrup could affect you
Coca-Cola announced Tuesday that it's launching a line of drinks sweetened with U.S. cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup after President Trump spoke with company leaders. Why it matters: The switch to cane sugar reflects the Make America Healthy Again movement's growing influence over the food industry's use of ultra-processed ingredients. Driving the news: The MAHA movement, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is focused on removing processed ingredients such as seed oils, artificial dyes, and high-fructose corn syrup from foods. Americans' consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke in adults. "MAHA is winning," Kennedy wrote on X in response to fast food chain Steak and Shake announcing it would sell Coca-Cola with "real cane sugar" starting Aug. 1. Earlier this month, Kennedy cheered the U.S. dairy industry's announcement that more than 40 ice-cream makers would voluntarily stop using synthetic dyes in their scoops. Yes, but: While cane sugar is less processed than corn syrup, they have basically the same weight gain and health effects, according to a 2022 analysis. The American Medical Association in 2023 said there was "insufficient evidence" to restrict the use of high fructose corn syrup in foods. Read on for an explanation on the differences between corn syrup and cane sugar: What is high-fructose corn syrup? High-fructose corn syrup comes from processing corn starch. When the starch is broken down, the end product is corn syrup, which is essentially 100% glucose, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Enzymes are then added to the corn syrup to convert some of the glucose to another simple sugar called fructose. The "high" in the end result is because there's more fructose than the pure glucose in corn syrup. How is cane sugar made? Sugarcane is a tall perennial grass that is cut after it matures, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The cane stalks are crushed and the resulting liquid is extracted into syrup or crystallized into products like white or brown sugar. Which one is healthier for you? A systematic review of people consuming the two ingredients found that there were no major differences in terms of body weight, blood sugar, or insulin levels. The study did suggest that those who consumed high-fructose corn syrup were more likely to have higher inflammation levels than those who consumed cane sugar. How are they used? High fructose corn syrup is predominantly used in processed and packaged goods that need to have a long shelf life because its more stable than regular sugar.
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jillian Michaels wants these food ingredients pulled from the shelves yesterday
Jillian Michaels gets candid with Fox News Digital on the bold changes she wants from the MAHA movement.
