Latest news with #MexicanCoke
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
White House Push for Cane-Sugar Coke Reignites Soda Wars
Mexican Coke could soon lose its elite status at American taquerias. President Trump said Wednesday that the Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to switch from using high-fructose corn sugar in its namesake soda to real cane sugar in the US. Coca-Cola hasn't confirmed the change. As investors prepped for Coke's cane-sugar future, corn syrup producers Archer-Daniels-Midland and Ingredion both saw their shares fizzle. Futures contracts for corn faltered while ones for raw sugar rose. READ ALSO: Uber Paying $300M Fare in Robotaxi Deal and Gaming Platform Roblox Adds Age-Verification to Safeguard Kids Complex Sugars Not everyone agrees with the admin's stance against corn syrup. Coca-Cola said on X that high-fructose corn syrup is safe and 'actually just a sweetener made from corn.' Medical experts haven't found any significant differences between corn- and cane-derived sugar. Big Corn also cobbled together a defense. A trade group representing corn producers said that a swap from corn to cane could cost the US thousands of jobs and hurt farms' income with 'no nutritional benefit.' Corn has been ingrained in the soda biz for decades: Coca-Cola originally switched from using cane sugar to corn syrup in the 1980s to cut costs — cane sugar, which is mainly produced in tropical and subtropical countries, was expensive because of tariffs, while US corn was (and still is) supported by subsidies. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta told CNBC Thursday that sugar costs more in the US than other countries and that a sugar swap hinges on making it less expensive. Today, tariffs are once again driving up the price of sugar. US sugar cost double the global rate last year, the Sweetener Users Association found. Food and beverage companies have already hiked their prices to reflect tariffs, and swapping a main ingredient could mean more increases. Syrupy Slope: Trump himself is a known aficionado of Diet Coke, and his health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed for food and beverage companies to nix ingredients like corn syrup, seed oils and artificial food dyes. (Just don't come for aspartame.) PepsiCo yesterday said it will relaunch Lay's and Tostitos with all-natural dyes and flavors next year. Kraft Heinz, Nestlé and General Mills have all pledged to stop using artificial dyes in their products. But phasing out non-natural dyes, which several major food companies said they don't use in the majority of their products, may be easier than ditching corn syrup. This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter. 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
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Donald Trump's push for Mexican Coke could ignite a health nightmare, doctors warn
Americans are always talking about Mexican Coke because it doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup. And President Donald Trump has gotten in on the action, saying he has convinced Coca-Cola to change its recipe back to cane sugar because 'it's just better!'. But now dietitians are weighing in, saying that even if the recipe is changed, the country's most popular soda will be as unhealthy as ever — and it could even leave the drink containing more calories. Dr Marion Nestle, a top nutritionist at New York University, told 'As I have been saying, the switch is nutritionally hilarious. 'Both sweeteners are made of glucose and fructose, taste the same and do the same bad things to metabolism when consumed in excess. 'A 12-ounce Coke has 39 grams of either one. That's excessive. High fructose corn syrup has a bad reputation because it is cheaper and used in loads of ultra-processed foods.' In fact, some experts are warning that Trump's promotion of Mexican Coke could actually make America's obesity crisis worse, as people will see it as a green light to drink more because they think it is healthier. Coca-Cola is the most popular soft drink in the country, with every American drinking an estimated 120 cans of the beverage every year. It has been made using high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s, which is made from processed field corn, although in some countries like the UK and Mexico the drink is still made using the original cane sugar. Coca-Cola is yet to reveal whether it is changing its recipe in response to the president's request, but added that it appreciated his enthusiasm and that more updates would be revealed soon. On the nutrition label, both cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup-sweetened Coca-Colas are virtually identical in terms of calories and sugar content. A standard 355-milliliter bottle of Mexican Coke contains about 150 calories, 39 grams (g) of sugar and 85 milligrams (mg) of salt. For comparison, the same-size bottle of US Coca-Cola made with high fructose corn syrup contains 140 calories, 39g of sugar and 45mg of salt. And dietitians say that studies suggest both have similar impacts on someone's health. Abbey Sharp, a registered dietitian in Canada, told the BBC's The World Tonight: 'In terms of calories, we are looking at exactly the same amount of calories. 'It is true that we have evidence that high levels of fructose, especially in liquid form, as we see in... coke, [are] associated with insulin resistance, fatty liver disease and high triglyceride levels. 'But sucrose, the cane sugar that Trump wants to put into the Coca-Cola is not benign to this eight because... it is 50 percent fructose.' High fructose corn syrup used in soft drinks contains about 55 percent fructose, or a simple sugar the body converts into energy, while cane sugar used in soft drinks is about 50 percent made up of the substance. Over-consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to a higher risk of obesity and associated conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The FDA recommends not consuming more than 1.7 ounces of sugar per day, equivalent to 1.25 Coca-Colas per day. And the American Heart Association says men should consume no more than 1.3-oz or 150 calories of sugar per day while women should consume no more than 0.8-oz or 100 calories of sugar per day, less than one can of Coca-Cola. Asked why people think of Mexican Coke as being healthier, Sharp said: 'I think the villainization of high fructose corn syrup over sucrose has a lot more to do with our appeals to nature fallacy than any really good hard evidence. 'We tend to see cane sugar, which is derived from sugar cane and sugar beets, as more close to nature, to plants, and we see that as more natural than high fructose corn syrup. '[That is] despite the fact that both of these are highly processed and they virtually have the same outcomes on our body and on our health.' She added: 'In fact, I might even argue there is a good possibility that this could do more harm because this is now essentially being promoted as quote unquote a healthier version of coke. 'So people might think that they are being given this green light to drink more of it.' Dr Sandip Sachar, a New York-based board-certified dentist, told 'Both sweeteners, cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup, are nearly identical in their impact on oral health. 'They feed cavity-causing bacteria which leads to acid production that erodes tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Whether the sugar comes from cane or corn, it feeds the same biological process in the mouth. 'There is some evidence that suggests that high fructose corn syrup may be slightly stickier and potentially cause more plaque buildup than cane sugar. But from a clinical perspective, both sweeteners are harmful in similar ways. 'The real issue is continued over consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, regardless of the sweetener.' Trump is a famous fan of Diet Coke, and even reportedly had a red button installed on his White House desk to allow him to quickly request a fresh beverage. Many supporters of the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement have long pressured food manufacturers to use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup in their products. Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy, who does not deny that cane sugar is also unhealthy, has also long spoken out about HFCS as part of his campaign against ultra-processed foods. But despite the HHS and his followers' claims, doctors say that changing the recipe of one of America's most beloved drinks will increase cases of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. According to Avery Zenker, a registered dietitian, cane sugar is nearly 100 percent sucrose - making it the no different from regular table sugar and poses the same dangers to the body. They told CBS News: 'Despite minor differences in chemical structure and metabolism, both cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup have similar health impacts when consumed in excess, especially in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages like soda.' A 2022 study found that both HFCS and cane sugar have similar impacts on weight and body composition markers, including waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and fat mass. The study also found similar impacts on cholesterol, triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood) and blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 36 grams or 150 calories of sugar per day while women should consume no more than 25 grams or 100 calories of sugar per day.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Is Mexican Coke Healthier Than US Coca-Cola? What to Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump has announced that Coca-Cola will swap high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with cane sugar in a win for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. Mexico is one of several countries where Coca-Cola already does this, but does it mean their Coke is healthier? The "short answer," according to Dr. Robert Lustig, who has spent more than a decade treating childhood obesity, is that "there is absolutely no difference between sucrose (Mexican Coke) and high-fructose corn syrup (U.S. Coke)." "They are both equally bad for you," Lustig told Newsweek. "They both cause mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic metabolic disease." Mexican Coke vs U.S. Coca-Cola Mexican Coke vs U.S. Coca-Cola Getty/Newsweek "The only difference is price," he added. "High-fructose corn syrup is half the cost, so manufacturers can afford to put more in, and make more profits. Otherwise, they're exactly the same." Coca-Cola has weighed in on this conversation itself, emphasizing that HFCS is safe. "The name sounds complex, but high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – which we use to sweeten some of our beverages – is actually just a sweetener made from corn," the company said in a post on X discussing Trump's announcement. "It's safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body." "The American Medical Association has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners," the post continued. "Please be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances." Why Is Coke Swapping Corn Syrup for Cane Sugar? On Wednesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that Coca-Cola would use cane sugar because it's "just better." "I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," he said on his social media platform. "I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!" Coca-Cola has not yet confirmed the move itself, telling Newsweek: "We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon." Health Secretary Kennedy, who does not deny that cane sugar is also unhealthy, has long spoken out about HFCS as part of his campaign against ultra-processed foods. Discussing the sweetener on an episode of Dr. Phil earlier this year, he said: "If you want to drink Coke, drink a Mexican Coke because they don't allow it down there." Kennedy, and other campaigners, say that HFCS has slightly different metabolic consequences. For example, cane sugar is 50 percent glucose and 50 percent fructose, while corn syrup is often 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose, according to the Corn Refiners Association. This slightly higher level of fructose could put extra pressure on your liver, which has to convert fructose into glucose so you can use it for energy, according to Healthline. Newsweek has contacted the United States Department of Health and Human Services, via email, for comment. What Would Coke's Shift to Cane Sugar Cost? Replace HFCS with cane sugar in some of Coca-Cola's U.S. products could carry a steep price tag and reshape agricultural demand across the country. The move would require substantial investment in new infrastructure and supply chains, according to industry analysts cited by Reuters. Ron Sterk, a senior editor at SOSland Publishing, an information provider for the ingredients industry in the U.S., told the outlet: "Food and beverage industries started to use corn syrup in the U.S. in the past because of costs. It is cheaper than sugar." Similarly, the Corn Refiners Association told Reuters: "The resulting economic shock wave would lead to rural job losses and significant economic consequences to communities across the country." One analyst, Heather Jones of Heather Jones Research, estimated that Coca-Cola's switching to cane sugar completely would cost more than $1 billion "given the current price gap between (HFCS) and cane sugar and the probability of very large price increases for the latter." What Happens Next Coca-Cola has not issued formal confirmation of a planned switch to cane sugar in its U.S. products, nor has it released a timetable for any such change. The company indicated new product announcements are forthcoming but did not specifically mention reformulating its flagship Coca-Cola beverage. It is also unclear if any regulatory or industrywide changes will follow as a result of the MAHA initiative or the White House's advocacy for reformulated foods.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Trump Wants Coca-Cola To Use Cane Sugar In Sodas, But Consumers Want...
The debate over whether Coca-Cola should use high-fructose corn syrup or cane sugar in its signature soda obscures an important fact: Consumers are increasingly looking for Coke with no sugar at all. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which was introduced in 2017, uses both the artificial sweetener aspartame and the natural sweetener stevia in its recipe. It's one of Coke's fastest-growing products, with global case volumes up 14% in the first quarter of the year. By comparison, the company's total case volumes were up 2%. PepsiCo also noted Thursday that 60% of its sales volumes in major markets in the second quarter came from low- or no-sugar drinks. 'When you look at colas, the percentage of growth coming from zero sugar is significant,' said Duane Stanford, the editor and publisher of Beverage Digest. The scrutiny over Coke's sweeteners began Wednesday, when President Donald Trump announced that Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. had agreed to switch to using cane sugar in the regular version of its beverage manufactured in the US. 'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump wrote on his social media site. 'I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' "I have been speaking to @CocaCola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!" –President Donald J. Trump — The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2025 Coca-Cola didn't confirm the change. In a statement, the company said it appreciated Trump's enthusiasm and would share details on new offerings soon. Stanford said he doubts Coca-Cola will fully shift away from high fructose corn syrup, which has sweetened Coke in the US since the 1980s. There would be tremendous supply chain and logistics headaches, he said, and the US doesn't make enough sugar for Coke's needs. He expects the Atlanta-based company will offer a cane sugar-sweetened version in the US just like its rival Pepsi has been doing since 2009. He noted that Coke has indulged US fans by importing Mexican Coke, which is made with cane sugar, since 2005. Coke positions Mexican Coke as an upscale alternative and sells it in glass bottles. The corn industry wasn't happy with the speculation. In a statement Wednesday, Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode said replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar makes no sense and would cost thousands of American manufacturing jobs. Shares in ADM, a maker of high fructose corn syrup, dipped nearly 2% Thursday after Trump's announcement. In a message on X, Coca-Cola defended high fructose corn syrup, saying it's no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners. 'It's safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body,' the company said. 'Please be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances.' The Food and Drug Administration also says there is no evidence of any difference in safety among foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and those that sugar, honey or other traditional sweeteners. Soft drink preferences are highly subjective, as anyone who has been in a Pepsi vs Coke or 7-Up vs. Sprite debate knows. But recent trends indicate that Coke and other drink makers need to focus on the kinds of low- and no-sugar drinks that a growing number of consumers are seeking, according to Stanford. He said his data shows original Coke was the top seller by volume in the US last year, with 19% market share, while Coke Zero Sugar was seventh and had a 4% market share. But Coke Zero Sugar's share grew 10%, while original Coke's share was flat. Paige Leyden, the associate director of food service, flavors and ingredients reports at the market research company Mintel, said drinks with a health halo like Olipop — which has 1 gram of sugars compared to original Coke's 65 grams — are also pressuring legacy soda makers. Mintel expects full-sugar sodas will see a 3.4% rise in US sales this year, while diet sodas will see 11.8% growth. Still, nutritionists suggest avoiding added sugars, no matter the form, since they provide empty calories with no nutrients. The 2020 US dietary guidelines advise people to limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars, and say children under 2 should not be fed them at all. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy, whose nutrition views often diverge from mainstream nutrition science, has spoken out against sugar. His agency is expected to release updated nutrition guidelines later this year. 'There's things we'll never be able to eliminate, like sugar,' Kennedy said at an April news conference. 'And sugar is poison, and Americans need to know that.' Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are also named as a concern in a government report Kennedy issued in May.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump's sugar economics for Coke amid the company's multi-billion tax case
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Trump, Coke and populist optics HFCS vs. sugar Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Where Coca-Cola stands Coke's billion-dollar tax mess Impact on sugar producers and costs Nutritional nuance Ninety-four percent of the world's population recognises the red-and-white Coca-Cola logo, according to a ResearchGate study citing multiple reports. That's not a brand — it's a global reflex. And now, Donald Trump wants President Donald Trump is gettinghimself involded into the recipe of the planet's most iconic soft drink. Coca-Cola, Trump claimed this week, has agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) with real cane sugar in its US-made sodas, a move he framed as a win for his "Make America Healthy Again" announcement came via Trump's Truth Social platform, where he posted a mock-up of a Coke bottle reading 'Share a Coke with Trump' and declared, 'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so… This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!'Coca-Cola hasn't confirmed the a vague statement hinted at something brewing: 'More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon,' the company said, while thanking the President for his 'enthusiasm.'Coca-Cola is deeply embedded in American culture. By nudging its formula, Trump taps into nostalgia, anti-corporate sentiment, and populism. Cane sugar recalls a time when things supposedly tasted 'better,' like the Mexican Coke many Americans swear message is simple: real over artificial, sugar over syrup, 'America First', even in your also a nod to Trump's Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's crusading against ultra-processed foods. Kennedy has blamed HFCS for fuelling obesity and diabetes, calling it 'just a formula for making you obese and diabetic.'HFCS, derived from corn starch, dominates US soda recipes because it's cheaper, partly due to corn subsidies and tariffs on imported became Coke's sweetener of choice in the 1980s. But many consumers prefer the cane sugar version sold abroad, which they say tastes cleaner. Trump's move channels that feeling, but swapping out HFCS isn't just accounts for about 3% of total US corn usage, 410 million bushels a year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Removing that would ripple through corn prices and farm Corn Refiners Association (CRA) estimates such a shift could cut farm receipts by $2.2 to $5.1 billion, with worst-case losses reaching $7.5 billion. Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska alone could lose nearly $2.35 billion in the short term.'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,' warned CRA President and CEO John Bode, as per remains a of July 17, 2025, it had a market cap of $298.16 billion. It reported $47.06 billion in revenue for 2024, with Q1 2025 revenues at $11.13 billion (down 2% YoY due to currency swings and bottling changes), while organic revenue rose 6%.Net income in 2024 hit $10.63 billion; Q1 2025 net income rose 4.8% to $3.33 sells 500+ brands in over 200 countries, reaching 1.9 billion people daily. It led the global non-alcoholic beverage market with over 40% share in 2024, according to $478.14 billion carbonated beverage market is projected to hit $707.76 billion by 2034, as per Precedence Research. The cola segment alone could more than double, from $144.6 billion to $317.5 billion, by then, as per Prophecy Market the US, Coke held a 44.9% share of the 2024 carbonated soft drink market, which was valued at $303.11 billion and is forecast to grow to $467.18 billion by 2030, according to Grand View brands like Coke (19.2%), Sprite (8.1%), and Diet Coke (7.8%) remain also worth noting is that nearly 40% of Coca-Cola's global revenue comes from the US market alone. In 2024, North America contributed 39% to total revenue, followed by Europe, the Middle East and Africa at 23%, Latin America and Bottling Investments at 13% each, and Asia Pacific at 12%, as per the Trump touts Coca-Cola's supposed health kick, the company is fighting a far more consequential battle, with the IRS. And the outcome could reset global norms on how multinationals are goes back to 1996, when Coke and the IRS agreed on a royalty formula for profits from foreign subsidiaries: the so-called 10-50-50 rule. Under it, subsidiaries kept 10% of sales and half the residual profit; the US parent got the return, the IRS said it wouldn't impose accuracy-related penalties, so long as Coke stuck to the truce held, until 2011. As reported the Forbes, without warning, the IRS scrapped the agreement for tax years 2007 to 2009 and imposed a new method: the Comparable Profits Method (CPM), which bases income allocations on profits earned by similar independent switch inflated Coca-Cola's taxable income by $9 billion and hit it with $3.4 billion in tax deficiencies for those three years challenged the IRS in court, but in 2020, the US Tax Court largely sided with the government. While the court allowed Coke some credit for dividends paid, it upheld the IRS's overall company now owes $2.7 billion in back taxes, $6 billion with September 2024, Coca-Cola wired the full $6 billion to the IRS, labelling it a 'tax litigation deposit.' The company is still appealing, but the money's already argues that the IRS pulled a bait and switch. After encouraging use of the 10-50-50 formula for years, the agency retroactively changed the rules and punished the company for following its its own words, the IRS 'handed Coca-Cola a $3 billion jaywalking ticket' after leading it into the the IRS accuses Coca-Cola of shifting billions in profits to low-tax countries like Ireland, Brazil, and Eswatini. In court, Judge Albert Lauber called the company's global tax structure 'astronomical.'The fallout is already in May 2024 raised $4 billion in debt, partly to deal with the Express reported that the case could curb acquisitions and buybacks. Al Jazeera pegged the company's total exposure at up to '$16 billion, almost two years' worth of profits.A shift to cane sugar would likely boost demand for domestic producers, particularly in Florida and Louisiana, where most of the US cane sugar industry is based. In 2024, the US sugar market stood at 48.1 million tons, as per IMARC, and the cane segment accounted for roughly 40–45% of total supply, USDA ERS, shift would be welcomed by powerful industry groups like the American Sugar Alliance, which have long advocated for reduced reliance on being shielded by the US Sugar Program, which keeps domestic prices high through tariffs and quotas, cane sugar producers have struggled. They face rising input costs, margin pressures, and stiff competition from cheaper HFCS, widely adopted since the sector has also seen significant consolidation, with sugarcane farms declining by 31% between 1997 and 2022, as reported Southern Ag Today. For many growers, a move back to real sugar in sodas would be a rare opportunity to reclaim lost the cost implications are sugar costs between $0.40 and $0.50 per pound in the US, compared to $0.20–$0.30 for HFCS. That could mean $800–$900 million in added annual costs for Coca-Cola alone, Hindustan Times reported, based on its estimated use of 2.7 billion pounds of could see price hikes of 10–15% on sweetened drinks, as per would also force 'massive supply chain overhauls,' from storage to equipment labour impact is mixed. Corn processors and HFCS refiners may face job cuts, thousands, according to the CRA. Meanwhile, sugar refining jobs could grow slightly, but direct employment in that sector is modest — 14,000 to 15,000 people, as per IBISWorld, switching to cane sugar may not mean much. The FDA has stated there's no evidence of a meaningful safety difference between HFCS and cane sugar. Harvard nutritionist Frank Hu summed it up: 'Sugar in general' is the problem, not which the war on ultra-processed food is as much cultural as medical, and Trump is using that is more than a formula change, it's a potential $6 billion shake-up in the domestic sugar economy, which accounts for 30% of US sugar announcement may be political theatre, but for Coca-Cola, it could be smart brand positioning. With tax agents closing in and consumers rethinking processed foods, appearing to respond to health concerns could be a reputational buffer.'Real sugar Coke' fits 2025's consumer trends: nostalgia, authenticity and clean-label marketing. But overhauling sugar sourcing, supply chains and formulas won't be easy.
