Latest news with #REALCane


Metro
6 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Coca-Cola to release new Trump-approved version of the soda
Steve Charnock Published July 23, 2025 2:15pm Link is copied Comments Soda giant Coca-Cola is rolling out an all-new cane sugar-sweetened version of its world-famous signature drink, confirming a move that President Donald Trump teased last week. The beverage behemoth shared the update in its latest quarterly earnings report on Tuesday, saying that the drink will launch this fall and sit alongside - not replace - its current corn syrup–based line-up in the US. Trump claimed credit for the move on social media, saying it's a win for American consumers and their taste buds (Picture: AFP via Getty Images) 'This will be a very good move by them - You'll see. It's just better!' Trump had posted on Truth Social last week. He also wrote: '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.' Coca-Cola later responded that it 'appreciates President Trump's enthusiasm,' but made clear that the original recipe isn't changing. Instead, this is a new product aimed at meeting growing consumer interest in alternative sweeteners (Picture: SOPA/Getty Images) According to the company's Tuesday announcement, the cane sugar version is part of Coca-Cola's 'ongoing innovation agenda' and will be an additional option within its US portfolio. 'This addition is designed to complement the company's strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences,' a spokesperson said. Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told analysts, 'We are definitely looking to use the whole toolkit of available sweetening options where there are consumer preferences' (Picture: Getty Images) Trump had reportedly raised the issue of corn syrup with Coke's top brass back in January. According to the book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House, the president even brought billionaire sugar magnate and political donor José Fanjul into the conversation, phoning him during the meeting to press the case for using cane sugar. The result, Trump later claimed online, was Coca-Cola's decision to develop a new formula sweetened with traditional sugar (Picture: NBCUniversal via Getty Images) In many countries, including Mexico, Coke is already made with cane sugar. And it's become something of a cult item in America under the nickname 'Mexican Coke'. Sold in glass bottles, the imported version has built a loyal following since it was introduced to US stores back in 2005. Now, the company hopes that a domestic cane sugar product will reach more shoppers who want that Mexican taste without the higher import price tag (Picture: Margo Martin) Still, not everyone is convinced this is a meaningful health move. While Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has publicly attacked high-fructose corn syrup as a major driver of obesity, nutrition experts remain sceptical. Kennedy once called the sweetener a 'formula for making you obese and diabetic' in an appearance on Jordan Peterson's podcast. But others caution that switching sweeteners doesn't necessarily make soda healthy… (Picture: Tucker Carlson/YouTube) 'Excess consumption of sugar from any source harms health,' Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, previously told CNN. 'To make the US food supply healthier, the Trump administration should focus on less sugar, not different sugar.' Many dietitians also argue that cane sugar and corn syrup affect the body in much the same way, especially in the high quantities found in sugary soft drinks (Picture: REUTERS) Coca-Cola's move doesn't necessarily mark a return to pre-corn syrup days so much as merely a product expansion for them. The company shifted to high-fructose corn syrup in the 1980s because it was cheaper and more readily available thanks to US corn subsidies. Quincey noted that cane sugar already appears in some American Coca-Cola products like lemonade, vitamin water and coffee drinks, so this new cola isn't entirely uncharted territory for the brand (Picture: Getty Images) Meanwhile, PepsiCo has no plans to change its flagship formula, but is experimenting with sweetener variety in newer offerings. Its prebiotic soda and its recently acquired Poppi brand both contain cane sugar. CEO Ramon Laguarta recently told CNBC that sugar's high price in the United States poses a rather hefty challenge for the industry. 'There is a conversation with the government probably on how do we make sugar more affordable in the US,' he said (Picture: Getty Images)


New York Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Coca-Cola to roll out new version of Coke sweetened with American cane sugar
Coca-Cola said it will roll out a new version of its signature soft drink that will be sweetened with cane sugar instead of corn syrup — days after President Trump posted about it on social media. 'As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with US cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,' the company said in a Tuesday statement. The Coke made with US cane sugar will complement the company's existing product line, the Atlanta-based company added. Advertisement Coca-Cola produced for the US market is typically sweetened with corn syrup, while the company uses cane sugar in some other countries, including Mexico and various European countries. 4 Coca-Cola will introduce a version of its signature drink made with American cane sugar this fall in the United States, the company said on Tuesday. REUTERS The Tuesday announcement came days after President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had 'been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so.' Advertisement Trump — who is famously an avid consumer of Diet Coke — also said, 'This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' Coca-Cola initially stopped short of confirming Trump's post. The company told NBC News last week that it appreciated Trump's 'enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand' but that 'details…will be shared soon.' In the United States, Coca-Cola made with cane sugar is colloquially known as 'Mexican Coke' as it's often imported from the United States' southern neighbor. 4 Coca-Cola produced for the US market is typically sweetened with corn syrup, while the company uses cane sugar in some other countries. Matcha_09 – Advertisement Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey discussed the coming product on an earnings call Tuesday morning, telling investors that the company already uses cane sugar in the company's tea, lemonade, coffee and Vitamin Water offerings. 'I think that it will be an enduring option for consumers,' he said. 'We are definitely looking to use the whole toolkit of available sweetening options where there are consumer preferences.' The Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative, named for the social movement aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed food companies to alter their formulations to remove ingredients like artificial dyes. Advertisement But medical experts warn that health outcomes may not change with the switch in sweetener. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, told NBC News that 'both high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are about 50% fructose, 50% glucose, and have identical metabolic effects.' 4 Experts warn that replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar won't significantly change health outcomes. angkhan – 'That is, both can equally raise the risk for obesity, diabetes, high triglycerides and blood pressure,' he said, adding that 'both provide the same number of calories, but the body processes them differently.' The move to transition to cane sugar was also met with pushback from agricultural interests. John Bode, the CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, said last week that 'replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense' given Trump's support of American farmers. '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,' he added in a statement. Sourcing could also be a factor. US cane sugar is primarily produced in Texas, Florida and Louisiana, according to the Agriculture Department. However, domestic production accounts for only 30% of total US sugar supply. The rest comes from sugar beets or is imported. Advertisement 4 The Coca-Cola Company confirmed the change Tuesday during its earnings call with investors. AFP via Getty Images Trump has long tied himself publicly to Coca-Cola products. In 2012, he said on Twitter that Coke was not happy with him but 'that's ok, I'll still keep drinking that garbage.' Trump also wrote on social media the same year that drinking Diet Coke 'makes you happy.' In January, Quincey traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and presented him with a custom bottle commemorating his upcoming inauguration. Advertisement 'President Trump pledged to Make America Healthy Again, and that starts with what we eat and drink,' White House spokesperson Kush Desai told The Post. 'The Trump administration is committed to partnering with food and beverage companies to expand options for the American people.' The Post has sought comment from HHS, Coca-Cola and the Corn Refiners Association.


NBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Coca-Cola will launch version with U.S. cane sugar after Trump push
The Coca-Cola Company said Tuesday that it will launch a version of its signature drink made with U.S. cane sugar. The announcement comes days after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had "been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so." Initially, Coca-Cola did not confirm the news. The company told NBC News last week that it appreciated Trump's "enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand" but that " be shared soon." The company said in its earnings release Tuesday morning that a version of the drink with cane sugar was indeed coming later this year. "As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range," its news release said. Coca-Cola produced for the U.S. market is typically sweetened with corn syrup, while the company uses cane sugar in some other countries, including Mexico and various European countries. In the United States, Coca-Cola made with cane sugar is colloquially known as "Mexican Coke." The Coke made with U.S. cane sugar will complement the company's existing product line, the company added. Last wee,k Trump said "this will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!" The Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again initiative, named for the social movement aligned with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed food companies to alter their formulations to remove ingredients like artificial dyes. While taste preferences may differ, the health impact of cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup is essentially the same. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, said that 'both high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are about 50% fructose, 50% glucose, and have identical metabolic effects." That is, both can equally raise the risk for obesity, diabetes, and high triglycerides and blood pressure. Both provide the same number of calories, but the body processes them differently.


USA Today
18-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Is Coca-Cola changing its US recipe? What we know so far
While Coca-Cola has yet to announce a recipe change, President Donald Trump said the drink-maker agreed to switch a primary ingredient for its U.S. beverages. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, July 16, the president said he has spoke with the company about using "REAL cane sugar" in its flagship soda, adding that company has 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!" he wrote. For its U.S. products, the soft drink manufacturer currently uses high-fructose corn syrup as opposed to cane sugar, which is used in other countries like Mexico. The announcement aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s efforts to shift American food consumption away from certain ingredients, like artificial dyes. While Kennedy has deemed both sugar and high fructose corn syrup as unhealthy, his Make America Healthy Again initiative combatting chronic health problems has claimed the proposed substitutes are ultimately healthier. Here's what to know about the supposed recipe change. What has Coca-Cola said about the move? Coca-Cola has not yet confirmed a recipe switch, as of Thursday evening, July 17, but the company teased an announcement could be coming. "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," the company said in a statement July 16. A company quarterly earnings call is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2025 starting at 8:30 a.m. ET. What has Trump, the White House said? The White House has not responded to USA TODAY's requests for comment after Trump initially announced the recipe switch on Truth Social July 16. "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. "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! Wall Street reacts: Stock prices of high fructose syrup producer ADM drop Archer-Daniels-Midland, a major producer of high fructose syrup, saw its shares fall close to 1% on July 17, following Trump's announcement. Meanwhile, ingredients provider Ingredion saw its shares decline by 0.6% after falling as much as 7% ahead of the market's open, CNBC reported. Coca-Cola shares rose nearly 2% on Thursday. Is cane sugar healthier than corn syrup? If consumed in excess, both cane and high-fructose corn syrup, like all sugars, can carry negative health effects including weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. While some studies have suggested that high-fructose corn syrup may be linked to increased fat production and inflammation, the FDA says it is "not aware of any evidence" of a difference in safety between foods containing high-fructose corn syrup and "foods containing similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners with approximately equal glucose and fructose content, such as sucrose, honey, or other traditional sweeteners." How would the recipe change impact Coca-Cola? Coca-Cola switching from cane sugar to high-fructose corn syrup would pose changes to cost and product labeling, Reuters reported, citing industry analysts. The company would have to significantly adjust its supply chains as the two sweeteners primarily come from different producers. Is corn syrup cheaper than sugar? Ron Sterk, a senior editor at food industry insider SOSland Publishing, said it is cheaper for U.S. food and beverage companies to use corn syrup than cane sugar, Reuters reported. Contributing: Reuters and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY