US President Donald Trump announced that Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its drinks in the US, prompting a decline in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland, a major high fructose corn syrup producer. The move comes as the Trump administration pushes for food companies to reformulate products with cleaner ingredients.
Trump tweeted about his conversation with Coca-Cola’s leaders, saying they had agreed to use real cane sugar. However, Coca-Cola did not confirm this decision and instead released a statement expressing appreciation for Trump’s enthusiasm but declining to make any further commitments.
The news has sent shockwaves through the food industry, with some experts warning of potential job losses due to the switch. The Corn Refiners Association described replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar as “a bad move” that would cost thousands of American jobs and boost imports of foreign sugar.
Despite concerns, Coca-Cola shares rose almost 2% on Thursday, following the announcement. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta noted that 60% of his company’s US beverages already do not contain corn syrup, and expressed a desire to make sugar more affordable in the US through government action.
The announcement has sent raw sugar futures soaring as investors await further details from Coca-Cola on its new offerings.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/17/high-fructose-syrup-producer-adm-stock-falls-after-trump-says-coca-cola-to-use-real-cane-sugar.html