
Coca-Cola will roll out cane sugar version of namesake soda in the U.S. this fall
Coke has used high-fructose corn syrup to sweeten its namesake soda in the U.S. since the 1980s, although it still uses cane sugar in other markets like Mexico. "Mexican Coke" has gained popularity in the U.S. over the last decade or so, as retailers like Costco and Target have stocked the drink, following the lead of bodegas and restaurants catering to Hispanic clientele.
In a news release announcing its second-quarter earnings Tuesday, Coke said the new product offering is "designed to complement the company's strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences."
The product announcement comes after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday that he has been speaking with the company about using "REAL Cane Sugar" in its U.S. soda. Trump is a longtime fan of Diet Coke, which uses the artificial sweetener aspartame, and even has a button in the Oval Office to summon the drink.
Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vocally opposed the use of high-fructose corn syrup, blaming it for obesity and chronic disease. Research does not suggest that cane sugar is a healthier option than high-fructose corn syrup.
Longstanding tariff-rate quotas on sugar imported from other countries make the commodity a more expensive option than corn syrup, which is made in the U.S. and supported by government subsidies for corn farmers.
Prior to Tuesday's announcement, Coke had been touting moves to cut back the amount of sugar in its portfolio — and customers are liking the switch. For example, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar has been one of the fastest-growing drinks for the company, with 9% volume growth last year.
Rival PepsiCo has also been adding cane sugar back to its namesake cola. On Monday, the company announced the forthcoming launch of Pepsi Prebiotic Cola, which includes three grams of fiber and five grams of cane sugar.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brazil's WEG expects to mitigate most impacts from Trump tariffs
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian motor maker WEG said on Thursday it expects to offset most of the impact from the 50% tariff U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose on Brazilian goods partly by adjusting some export routes. Analysts have cited WEG - whose motors are used in vehicles, wind turbines and power transmission lines - among the most exposed firms to the steep tariffs, which are due to take effect on August 1. The company on Wednesday reported lower-than-expected second-quarter results, noting that geopolitical uncertainties have limited long-term visibility and led some clients to postpone investment decisions for large projects. Chief Financial Officer Andre Rodrigues suggested on Thursday the firm could use its Brazilian operations to supply countries such as Mexico and India, whose products would in turn meet U.S. demand. "The execution may take a few months, but once the change is implemented, we expect to be able to mitigate most of these impacts," he told a call with analysts, though warning the move would also depend on the levies Trump imposes on other nations. WEG has plants in over a dozen countries, including the United States and Mexico, and has touted its global presence and broad product portfolio as factors that might help shield it from the tariffs' impacts. Rodrigues said that products made in Brazil currently account for less than a third of WEG's U.S. sales. He noted that the effects on WEG's second-quarter results of the 10% tariff Trump had initially imposed in April were small, saying that the firm made some price adjustments in the U.S. to offset the impact of those levies. "Looking ahead, at this point it's not possible to have a firm stance, given the many uncertainties and volatility in the trade structures being discussed," Rodrigues added. "But if the current situation persists, WEG does have an action plan." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


San Francisco Chronicle
4 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Like the Fed, European Central Bank holds off on rate cuts amid tariff upheaval
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged Thursday, hitting pause on rate cuts amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught and high-stakes trade talks marked by threats of drastically higher import taxes on European goods. Bank President Christine Lagarde said the current economic environment and the potential impact of higher tariffs was 'exceptionally uncertain." Higher tariffs could slow investment, growth and inflation - or they could be inflationary by disrupting existing supply chains for parts and raw materials. 'The sooner this trade uncertainty is resolved ... the less uncertainty we will have to deal with," she said. 'And that would be welcome by any economic actors, including trade tensions are resolved in short order, it will clear some of the uncertainty that we have weighing on the decision-making of consumers, of investors, of, untold enterprises." 'You could argue that we are on hold, we are in this wait and watch situation.' The central bank for the 20 countries that use the euro is facing the same dilemma that has led the U.S. Federal Reserve to hold off on cutting rates further: it's hard to tell how high the tariffs will end up after fraught negotiations, and what the ultimate impact will be on the economy. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has been harshly criticized by the Trump for delaying rate cuts. For his part, Powell has said the Fed wants to see the impact of the duties on prices and the economy before making any rate changes. The ECB has already cut rates eight times since June of last year. The monetary authority for the 20 countries that use the euro currency has been lowering rates to support growth after raising them in 2022-2023 to snuff out inflation caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the rebound after the pandemic. With the bench mark rate now at 2%, down from a record high of 4% Analysts say a rate cut in September is a possibility but not a certainty. The reason: ECB's policymakers simply don't know the outcome of talks between the EU's executive commission and the Trump administration. Trump first set a 20% tariff for EU goods, then threatened 50% after expressing displeasure at the pace of talks, then sent the EU a letter informing officials of a potential 30% tariff. EU officials earlier held out hope of winning at least the 10% baseline that applies to almost all trade partners, and analysts think that the actual rate may be lower than Trump's tariff threats. The talks are up against an Aug. 1 deadline, but earlier deadlines have slipped as the sides kept talking. Higher tariffs, or import taxes, on European goods would mean sellers would have to either increase prices for U.S. consumers - risking loss of market share - or swallow the added cost in terms of lower profits. In either case, higher tariffs would hurt export earnings for European firms and slow the economy, which would strengthen the case for another rate cut in September. The ECB's rate cuts have helped support economic activity by lowering the cost of credit for consumers and businesses to purchase goods. Higher rates have the opposite effect and are used to cool of inflation by reducing demand for goods. Growth in the eurozone was relatively strong at 0.6% in the first quarter - though that was partly due to rushed shipments of goods trying to beat the tariffs. Inflation has fallen from double digits in late 2022 to 2% in June, in line with the ECB's target. A stronger euro, which lowers the price of imports, and softer global prices for oil have helped keep inflation moderate.


The Hill
4 minutes ago
- The Hill
Columbia settles with Trump: 5 things to know
Columbia University and the Trump administration announced a long-awaited settlement Monday night after months of negotiations. Columbia will pay $221 million to restore the more than $400 million in federal funding that was cut off by the administration, which had originally cited alleged inaction on antisemitism, though Education Secretary Linda McMahon pointed to more ideological motives. 'This is a monumental victory for conservatives who wanted to do things on these elite campuses for a long time because we had such far left-leaning professors,' McMahon said on Fox Business Network. The university, which saw some of the nation's most active pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations amid the war in Gaza, did not have to admit to wrongdoing in the deal, which is certain to put the higher education world on high alert. Columbia, Trump both tout deal as a win Both Columbia and the Trump administration positioned the deal as a victory from their perspective. 'This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,' acting university President Claire Shipman said in a statement. 'The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track,' she added. Columbia did avoid some earlier reported provisions that would have given the administration more control over its business. But with significant reforms still agreed upon, the president went to Truth Social to declare victory. 'It's a great honor to have been involved, and I want to thank and congratulate Secretary Linda McMahon, and all those who worked with us on this important deal,' he wrote. 'I also want to thank and commend Columbia University for agreeing to do what is right. I look forward to watching them have a great future in our Country, maybe greater than ever before!' Columbia agrees to multiple reforms Along with the more than $200 million Columbia will pay over three years, an additional $21 million will go to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to resolve all federal investigations against the university. Columbia also said it would implement reforms announced back in March such reviewing its Middle East curriculum and ending programs that 'promote unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts,' with a report to monitor that progress. The university also agreed to ask incoming foreign students 'questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States' and said it would provide information to the federal government regarding international students who are expelled. The school and the federal government will agree on an independent monitor to ensure the resolution is followed. Columbia did not try to fight in court Columbia's strategy with the Trump administration has appeared to be one of full cooperation, in contrast with other schools, particularly Harvard University, that have dug in their heels in opposition, filing multiple lawsuits against Trump's moves. While Columbia's faculty went through with its own lawsuit, a judge ruled only the university itself had the standing to bring a legal challenge to the Trump administration's actions. But Columbia decided, to a chagrin of staff and others in higher education, to try to come to an agreement. 'Columbia's longstanding research partnership with the federal government is vital to advancing our nation's progress in key areas of science, technology, and medicine,' Board of Trustees Co-Chairs David Greenwald and Jeh Johnson said in a statement on the matter. 'We are proud of the role we play in advancing this public service and preparing the next generations of students to meet complex challenges around the world,' they added. Trump sees this as roadmap for other universities One of the biggest concerns of higher education was Columbia's cooperation would lead the Trump administration to expect similar responses from other universities. 'Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming,' Trump wrote in his post announcing Columbia's settlement. McMahon, in her Fox Business interview, said, 'Our campuses are now what they should be. They're places for debate, they're places for education. They're not places for left-leaning riots and antisemitism.' Higher education looks to Harvard for hope From the start, Harvard and Columbia took opposite approaches in handling pressure from the administration. While Columbia worked on a deal with no retaliation, Harvard has sued multiple times, once for funding cuts and the other over attempts to take away its foreign students. The attempts to stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students were struck down by a judge, and a ruling over the funding pause is likely forthcoming. While Trump had indicated in June that a deal with Harvard could be forthcoming, such an announcement never came. Those in higher education are hoping Harvard keeps the fight going as a win against the oldest and richest nation in the country would pour even more gasoline on the Trump administration's fire to go after universities. 'Research that the government has put in jeopardy includes efforts to improve the prospects of children who survive cancer, to understand at the molecular level how cancer spreads throughout the body, to predict the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and to ease the pain of soldiers wounded on the battlefield. As opportunities to reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease are on the horizon, the government is slamming on the brakes,' Harvard President Alan Garber said when Trump cut funding.