Coca-Cola unveils a new Trump-endorsed variant of its soft drink
In a move that follows President Trump's recent call for using "real" cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in American cola, Coca-Cola has announced the launch of a new U.S. soda product made with cane sugar this fall.
The new beverage will be part of Coca-Cola's core product range, offering consumers more choices and complementing the existing product portfolio. The company has framed this step as part of its ongoing innovation agenda, without explicitly linking it to Trump's pressure, but the timing and public statements suggest a correlation.
While Coca-Cola has long used HFCS in the U.S., due to corn subsidies and lower costs, cane sugar has remained the sweetener in markets like Mexico. The use of cane sugar in the new U.S. soda product marks a shift in Coca-Cola's sweetening strategy, although the company's flagship recipe will continue to use HFCS.
Coca-Cola is not alone in its exploration of different sweetening options. PepsiCo, for instance, has recently acquired the Poppi brand, which uses cane sugar, and its newly announced prebiotic soda contains cane sugar.
The health implications of this shift are a topic of discussion. While some advocate for the use of cane sugar over HFCS, citing its compositional distinctness, others caution that excess consumption of sugar from any source harms health. Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, emphasises the need for less sugar consumption overall, rather than a switch to different types of sugar.
Ramon Laguarta, CEO of PepsiCo, has suggested a conversation with the government about making sugar more affordable in the U.S. to facilitate a transition to using cane sugar. This suggestion underscores the potential economic implications of such a shift.
CEO James Quincey of Coca-Cola believes the new Coke will be an enduring option for consumers, indicating the company's commitment to this new product. However, it remains to be seen how the market will respond to this change and whether other companies will follow suit.
This report includes contributions from CNN's Kristen Rogers.
[1] The New York Times. (2025, July 17). Coca-Cola to Launch New U.S. Soda Made with Cane Sugar. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/business/coca-cola-cane-sugar-soda.html [2] CNBC. (2025, July 17). Coca-Cola Confirms New U.S. Soda Made with Cane Sugar. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/17/coca-cola-confirms-new-u-s-soda-made-with-cane-sugar.html [3] Forbes. (2025, July 17). Trump Claims Victory in Coca-Cola's Shift to Cane Sugar. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2025/07/17/trump-claims-victory-in-coca-colas-shift-to-cane-sugar/?sh=53e0354a5e7e
- This shift towards using cane sugar in American cola, as demonstrated by Coca-Cola's new product, could potentially reshape the food-and-drink industry's business strategies regarding sweeteners.
- The rise in use of cane sugar as a sweetener by major players like Coca-Cola reflects a growing trend in lifestyle choices that prioritize natural ingredients, challenged by recent financial considerations and governmental pressure.
- The food-and-drink business landscape could experience significant alterations as more companies consider switching to cane sugar or similar alternatives due to shifting consumer preferences and potential economic benefits.
