Topline<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Coca-Cola will switch its formulation in the U.S. to use cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup, a change the company has not explicitly confirmed, while the corn refining industry warned that such a move could lead to job losses.<\/p>\n
Coca-Cola has not explicitly confirmed Trump’s claim but said details about new offerings “will be … More shared soon.”<\/p>\n
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reservedKey Facts<\/p>\n
In a post on his Truth Social<\/a> platform on Wednesday afternoon, Trump wrote that he has been \u201cspeaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump said this will be a \u201cvery good move by them,\u201d and added, \u201cIt\u2019s just better!\u201d<\/p>\n The president didn\u2019t specify who he had spoken with and when such a move would happen.<\/p>\n In a statement shared with several<\/a> outlets<\/a>, a Coca-Cola spokesperson said, \u201cWe appreciate President Trump’s enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand.\u201d<\/p>\n The company, however, stopped short of confirming the change and said: \u201cMore details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.\u201d<\/p>\n At present, Coca-Cola uses high-fructose corn syrup to sweeten its soft drinks in the U.S. <\/p>\n Chief Critic<\/p>\n The Corn Refiners Association, a trade body representing corn refiners in the country, pushed back against any change to Coke\u2019s formulation in a statement<\/a> on its website. \u201cReplacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn\u2019t make sense. President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit. Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n What Do We Know About Rfk Jr. And The Maha Movement\u2019s Criticism Of Corn Syrup?<\/p>\n President Trump\u2019s post did not explicitly mention Coke\u2019s use of corn syrup to sweeten its drinks or why he was pushing for such a change, other than his suggestion that cane sugar was \u201cjust better.\u201d However, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Movement have been severely critical of the use of high-fructose corn syrup, seed oils, and artificial coloring in foods. In the past, Kennedy has blamed<\/a> corn syrup as one of the culprits behind America\u2019s \u201cobesity epidemic.\u201d<\/p>\n Surprising Fact<\/p>\n Coca-Cola sold in Mexico is sweetened using cane sugar, and this has turned the so-called \u201cMexicoke\u201d into a cult favorite among some people who insist that it tastes better than U.S.-made Coke.<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n Trump Says Coca-Cola Agreed to Use Cane Sugar in Coke Made in U.S.<\/a> (New York Times)<\/p>\n