Coca-Cola has announced plans to release a new variant made with cane sugar, following claims by President Donald Trump that he persuaded the company to make the switch from high-fructose corn syrup.
The move comes as part of Coca-Cola’s efforts to offer more choices for consumers. The new product will be launched in the fall and will feature cane sugar, which is already used in some versions of Coke sold in Mexico.
However, it appears that Trump’s claims were exaggerated, and the company’s flagship recipe remains unchanged. Instead, a separate product with cane sugar will be created.
Coca-Cola uses high-fructose corn syrup in its American-made products, which has been criticized by health experts. “Excess consumption of sugar from any source harms health,” said Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Meanwhile, rival PepsiCo is also exploring new product lines featuring cane sugar, including a prebiotic soda and its recently acquired Poppi brand.
The move by Coca-Cola to offer a cane sugar-based alternative may be seen as an attempt to address consumer demand for healthier options. However, experts argue that reducing sugar content across the industry should be the focus rather than switching between different types of sugar.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/22/food/coca-cola-cane-sugar-launch-earnings