The Quest to Find Enough Cane Sugar for American Coke
Welcome to the new Business of Food newsletter, covering how the world feeds itself in a changing economy and climate, from farming to supply chains to consumer trends. This week, Micah Barkley looks at the challenge of adding cane sugar to US Coke. Any tips or feedback? Email food czar Agnieszka de Sousa. And if you aren't yet signed up to receive this newsletter, please do so here.
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Indianapolis Star
37 minutes ago
- Indianapolis Star
Trump-backed cane sugar Coke tastes different, but health benefits are a myth
Our favorite soda is being made great again. Or is it? Early in my career, I was puzzled when a lab colleague asked me to bring back a few cans of Coke from my trip home to Brazil. I soon learned that sodas in the United States are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of cane sugar, and that many people miss the original flavor of sugar-sweetened versions. What I've learned about sweeteners since then feels especially relevant now, as Coca-Cola's decision to reintroduce cane sugar into at least one of its American-sold products, allegedly prompted by President Donald Trump's encouragement, has reignited discussion over what goes into our sodas. While sucrose, the chemical name for cane sugar, could be the most common sweetener in our kitchens, many other substances also taste sweet to us. These include glucose, fructose and intensely sweet compounds like saccharin (a synthetic sweetener), steviol glycosides (extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana) and even ultrasweet proteins. One of the most intriguing of those proteins is brazzein, my personal favorite, which was discovered in the West African plant Pentadiplandra brazzeana and is now produced at scale by engineered microbes in large fermentation tanks. Some of these substances are packed with calories, while others are virtually calorie-free. The way our bodies metabolize them varies widely. Coca-Cola's reintroduction of cane sugar in its products line is a big deal, not just because it affects a multibillion dollar market, but also because beverages operate in an intensely competitive market space with razor-thin margins, where even a few extra cents per can carry real weight. Cost, technical advantages and national interests might explain why soda manufacturers switched to corn syrup. The technical advantages to using HFCS versus cane sugar include the level of sweetness. You can pack a lot of sweetness into HFCS because it is more soluble in water than cane sugar, and it is often easier for the industry to manage syrups versus powders. There is also a strategic advantage for the U.S. economy. With the help of tariffs imposed on imported sugar in the late 1970s, adoption of HFCS allowed replacing sugar imports with a U.S.-grown and -produced alternative. This explains why the industry made the switch, but does soda sweetened with HFCS taste the same? And is sugar really any healthier than HFCS? Even though the sweetness level of the final product can be adjusted to be exactly the same, some consumers notice slight differences in taste and mouth feel when HFCS replaces sugar cane in beverages. Some say that the cane sugar version is 'crisper,' or that the HFCS version tastes more 'syrupy,' while others will either not notice the change or quickly get used to it. However, beyond the perception in our mouths, our bodies handle these sugars in different ways. After we swallow products containing sucrose, our body breaks each molecule into one molecule of glucose and one of fructose. Glucose is one of the most important sources of energy for our body, essential for the functioning of our brain, which might explain why we are hardwired to crave sweets so much. Fructose, however, is almost solely metabolized in our livers, and because it isn't as readily consumed as an energy source, it may saturate liver capacities and lead to more fat accumulation. Overconsumption of either of these sugars increases likelihood of obesity and fatty liver disease, ultimately leading to type 2 diabetes and other severe health problems. The bottom line is simple: The potential difference in health impact between cane sugar and HFCS is minor when compared with the well-established risks of excessive consumption of sugar. Both are added sugars that contribute to the growing burden of metabolic disease when consumed in excess. Hopefully, the discussion around corn syrup versus cane sugar won't lead us to lose sight of the importance of reducing overall sugar consumption − perhaps by opting for the diet versions of our favorite sodas, as President Trump has.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Is Exactly When You'll Find Out Your 2026 Social Security COLA
Key Points Cost of living adjustments help prevent Social Security benefits from losing their buying power over time. Retirees are on track to receive a COLA in 2026, though it may not be as large as they hope. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For retirees who collect Social Security, the announcement of the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) is a big deal. Social Security benefits are an important income source for millions of Americans, and the government announces a COLA -- a benefits increase -- most years to help benefits retain their buying power even as prices increase due to inflation. So, when will the Social Security Administration (SSA) announce how large of a raise seniors are on track for in 2026? Here's what you need to know. This is when the 2026 cost of living adjustment will be announced For retirees eager to find out how big their benefit increase is going to be in 2026, you'll have to be patient. The Social Security does not announce how big the COLA will be until mid-October. There is a reason why October is the key month. The cost of living adjustment is based on year-over-year changes to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures the costs of a specific basket of goods and services. The SSA calculates the COLA by taking into account third-quarter CPI-W data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The third quarter includes the months of July, August, and September. When September's CPI-W data becomes available in October, the SSA will compare the third-quarter average to the same period a year ago. Any year-over-year increase becomes the COLA. For example, if the data shows that prices have gone up an average of 2.5% over the course of those three months, then retirees would be in line for a 2.5% raise. There are estimates out already for seniors eager to know what the 2026 COLA will be It may be frustrating to find out that it's going to be several more months until you know how big your benefits increase will be, especially if you are counting on Social Security to help you cover the essentials. You may be feeling the pinch right now and want to know if you'll have more breathing room in your budget next year. The good news is estimates already exist to give you some insight into how big of a benefits bump is likely coming. Data from the first six months of the year can indicate how inflation is trending. Based on currently available data, the Senior Citizens League (a senior advocacy group) is predicting a 2.6% COLA for 2026. This prediction has been trending upward, as the group previously expected a 2.5% COLA. While these projections can change, retirees at least have something to go on as they estimate what their budget will look like next year. The official COLA for 2026 will come out on Oct. 15. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Is Exactly When You'll Find Out Your 2026 Social Security COLA was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Social Security's 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Is Shaping Up to Be a Lose-Lose Scenario for Retirees
Key Points There's nothing of greater significance to Social Security beneficiaries than the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) reveal, which is slated for Oct. 15. Based on independent estimates, Social Security's COLA is on track to do something that hasn't been observed this century. Unfortunately, retirees are contending with a double-whammy that can partially or completely sap their history-making COLA. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › For most retired Americans, Social Security is more than just a monthly check. It represents a financial foundation that helps them make ends meet. Even though the average monthly retired-worker check only crested $2,000 for the first time in history in May, this relatively modest payout was responsible for pulling an estimated 16.3 million adults aged 65 and over above the federal poverty line in 2023, according to an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. For aging workers who can no longer provide for themselves, nothing is of more significance than knowing how much they'll receive each month from America's leading retirement program -- and no announcement has more relevance than the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which will be unveiled on Oct. 15. Even with Social Security's 2026 COLA currently on pace to do something that hasn't been witnessed this century, retirees are very likely staring down yet another lose-lose scenario. What is Social Security's COLA and how is it calculated? The best way to view Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment is as the tool used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to fight back against a loss of buying power due to inflation (rising prices). For instance, if a basket of goods and services regularly bought by retirees were to increase in cost by 2% from one year to the next, Social Security benefits would need to climb by the same percentage, otherwise retirees wouldn't be able to purchase the same amount of goods and services. Social Security's COLA is the annual "raise" designed to match the inflationary pressures Social Security recipients are contending with. Beginning in 1975, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) became the inflationary measure used to calculate COLAs on an annual basis. Prior to 1975, COLAs were assigned by special sessions of Congress on an arbitrary basis. The CPI-W has well over 200 price categories, all of which have their own respective percentage weightings. These weightings are what allow the CPI-W to be expressed as a single figure at the end of the month to determine if this basket of goods and services has, collectively, increased (inflation) or decreased (deflation) in cost. Although the CPI-W is reported monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), only readings from July through September (the third quarter) factor into the cost-of-living adjustment calculation. If the average CPI-W reading from the third quarter of 2025 is higher than the comparable reading in 2024, beneficiaries can expect their monthly benefit to climb in 2026. The year-over-year percentage increase in average third-quarter CPI-W readings, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent, represents the COLA beneficiaries will receive in the upcoming year. It's that simple. Social Security's 2026 cost-of-living adjustment is on pace to make history Though the SSA is still two and a half months away from revealing the 2026 COLA, initial independent estimates point to history being made. Throughout the 2010s, Social Security beneficiaries had little to look forward to. Deflation led to no COLA being passed along in 2010, 2011, and 2016, while 2017 featured the smallest positive COLA (0.3%) in the program's storied history. The tables have turned dramatically in recent years thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge of fiscal stimulus. A rapid increase in U.S. money supply sent the prevailing rate of inflation notably higher, which in turn produced respective COLAs of 5.9% in 2022, 8.7% in 2023, 3.2% in 2024, and 2.5% in 2025. All four of these cost-of-living adjustments are above the 2.3% average annual "raise" since 2010. Following the release of the June inflation report from the BLS, nonpartisan senior advocacy group The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is forecasting a 2.6% bump in monthly payouts for the upcoming year. Meanwhile, independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson is looking for Social Security's COLA to come in at 2.7% in 2026. If (big "if") either TSCL or Johnson proves accurate with their respective forecasts, it would mark the first time this century that five consecutive COLAs reached at least 2.5%. The last time Social Security's cost-of-living adjustment was at least 2.5% for five straight years was 1987 through 1996. Keeping in mind that numerous variables can alter these forecasts, including President Donald Trump's tariff and trade policy, retired-worker beneficiaries could be looking at a monthly payout boost ranging from $52 to $54 in 2026. In comparison, the average worker with disabilities is on track for a monthly increase of $41 to $43, while the average survivor beneficiary can see their check climb by $41 to $42 per month in the upcoming year, based on estimates. The dreaded lose-lose scenario awaits retirees, yet again, in 2026 Unfortunately, even history-making moments for Social Security aren't enough to protect aging workers from getting the short end of the stick. On a nominal basis, a 2.6% or 2.7% COLA would be higher than the average payout increase of 2.3% since 2010. But it would almost certainly result in retirees losing buying power, which has been an ongoing theme of this century. While the CPI-W is a vast improvement over the arbitrary cost-of-living adjustments assigned by special sessions of Congress, it's still rife with flaws. Specifically, it's an index that caters to "urban wage earners and clerical workers." These are typically working-age Americans who aren't currently receiving a monthly check from Social Security. More importantly, urban wage earners and clerical workers are going to spend their money differently than seniors. For retirees, shelter and medical care services account for a larger percentage of their monthly expenditures than the typical worker. However, the CPI-W provides no added weighting for these two categories, even though 87% of Social Security's nearly 70 million beneficiaries (including disabled workers, survivors, retired workers, and all applicable spouses and children) are aged 62 and above. Based on data from the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which is a similar inflationary measure to the CPI-W, shelter and medical care services inflation respectively hit 3.8% and 3.4% on a trailing-12-month basis, ended June 2025. As long as the prevailing rate of inflation for these two critical spending categories remains higher than the COLA beneficiaries receive, the purchasing power of a Social Security dollar seems destined to decline. But this is just one of two ways retirees appear set to lose in 2026. In addition to key expense categories rising at a brisk pace, the Medicare Part B premium is projected to soar next year. Part B is the segment of Medicare that deals with outpatient services, and it's usually automatically deducted from the Social Security benefit of enrollees each month. Following back-to-back years of a 5.9% increase in Part B premiums, the Medicare Trustees Report is estimating a whopping 11.5% jump to $206.20 per month in 2026. Even if Social Security's COLA comes in modestly higher than current estimates, there's an extremely high likelihood that Part B premiums will eat up a significant chunk of next year's cost-of-living adjustment for most beneficiaries. Yet again, Social Security's retirees are facing a lose-lose scenario. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Social Security's 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Is Shaping Up to Be a Lose-Lose Scenario for Retirees was originally published by The Motley Fool 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
