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Coca-Cola Plans Fall Release of Cane Sugar Coke After Trump’s Intervention

Nutrition authorities say sweetener substitutions leave metabolic impacts from excess intake unchanged

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A bottle of Coca-Cola imported from Mexico is displayed on a table on July 17, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
A display of Coke original taste in a market in Bethel Park, Pa., Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Bruno Xavier is a food safety and product development expert who oversees the manufacturing and regulatory review of more than 2,000 products annually as associate director and thermal processing authority at the Cornell Food Venture Center.

Overview

  • President Trump said he secured Coca-Cola’s commitment to use real cane sugar in U.S. sodas, and the company has confirmed a new cane sugar-sweetened cola will debut this autumn alongside its high-fructose corn syrup range.
  • CEO James Quincey emphasized that the cane sugar variant is an addition to Coca-Cola’s lineup rather than a replacement of its existing formula.
  • Endocrinology experts point out that cane sugar and HFCS contain comparable fructose levels and have virtually identical effects on weight, blood sugar, cholesterol and heart disease risk.
  • Studies warn that labeling products as made with “natural” cane sugar can create a health halo that may lead consumers to drink more despite equal calorie content.
  • Economic analysis indicates that U.S. farm assistance programs, including a $10 billion Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, should shield corn growers from initial losses, while international measures like Chile’s labeling laws have reduced sugary drink intake by nearly 25 percent.