Latest news with #softdrink
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coke sugar switch 'nutritionally hilarious' according to food science expert
President Donald Trump is claiming that Coca-Cola will replace high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its flagship soft drink. Experts say they're equally unhealthy.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coke sugar switch 'nutritionally hilarious' according to food science expert
President Donald Trump is claiming that Coca-Cola will replace high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar in its flagship soft drink. Experts say they're equally unhealthy.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Donald Trump says Coca-Cola will use cane sugar in US production of Coke
US President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola had agreed to sweeten its signature soft drink with cane sugar in the US, in what could represent a big shift from its decades-long use of high fructose corn syrup. In a social media post on Wednesday, the US president said he had been speaking to Coca-Cola about 'using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the US, and they have agreed to do so'. He hailed it as a 'good move' by the Atlanta-based company, adding: 'You'll see. It's just better.' Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar in Coke distributed in the European Union, including in Ireland. Mr Trump's unexpected announcement inserted the White House into a long-running debate about the effects on health of different types of sugar – and has the potential to delight or alienate farmers in regions of the country where he has strong support. READ MORE Neither Mr Trump nor Coca-Cola addressed questions about the shift late on Wednesday, including how Coca-Cola would source the volumes of cane sugar it would need or whether any cane-based cola would replace or complement current drink ingredients. Coca-Cola said: '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.' While Coke's plans remained vague, Mr Trump's statement rippled through the beverage industry. Rival soft-drink maker PepsiCo was asked about it in an earnings call on Thursday morning. 'We're following the consumer,' Ramon Laguarta, Pepsi's chief executive, told analysts. 'If the consumer is telling us that they prefer products that have sugar and they prefer products that have natural ingredients, we will give the consumer products that have sugar and have natural ingredients.' US-produced Coca-Cola uses high fructose corn syrup, a highly processed sweetener whose effects on health in comparison with other forms of added sugars has long been a source of controversy. High fructose corn syrup is derived from corn, whose base of production is in midwestern farm states such as Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska in rural counties that largely voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. US sugar cane is principally grown in the warm Gulf Coast states of Florida and Louisiana, while additional cane sugar is imported under a tariff quota system. Shares of Archer Daniels Midland and Ingredion, two of the largest publicly traded corn processors, respectively plunged 6.3 per cent and 8.9 per cent in after-hours trading on Wednesday, but had pared most of their losses after Wall Street reopened on Thursday. Coke shares were up 0.8 per cent. John Bode, chief executive of the Corn Refiners Association, said: '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.' Coke's bottlers used cane sugar in US production until the 1980s and continue to use it in most foreign production, including in Mexico, which has resulted in so-called Mexican Coke being favoured by some US consumers. Its special Kosher for Passover variation, known for its yellow tops, is also coveted by some consumers because it too uses sugar rather than corn syrup. In a social media post, Coca-Cola said corn syrup was safe and had roughly the same calories as table sugar. '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.' Mr Trump's announcement comes as his health secretary Robert Kennedy Jnr pursues a broader crackdown on highly processed foods. Earlier this week, the White House announced dozens of ice cream companies, representing more than 90 per cent of the ice cream volume sold in the US, had pledged to stop using certified artificial colours in their frozen dairy products. While Mr Kennedy has attacked high fructose corn syrup, he has also taken an aggressive line against sugar in general. At an event earlier this year, he declared 'sugar is poison', not qualifying whether it came from corn, cane or another crop. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use "Real Cane Sugar" in US
Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its product at his suggestion, terming it a "good move". However, the soft drink manufacturing company is yet to confirm the change. Trump, in his post on Truth Social, claimed that the beverage giant has agreed to the same. "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. 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!" the US President said. Notably, Donald Trump's affinity for Coke is a longstanding one. Prior to Trump's oath-taking ceremony on January 15, Tesla CEO Elon Musk called the inventor of Diet Coke a 'genius' as his love for Coke is also well known. Musk shared an image of Trump with Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey as the latter gifted him a custom commemorative bottle of Diet Coke. "The inventor of Diet Coke is a genius," the post from Musk read. Trump's Deputy Director of Communications, Margo Martin, also shared a photo of the glass bottle and a note accompanying it. The glass bottle features a unique label showcasing an image of the White House along with the slogan, "The Inauguration of the President of the United States Donald J. Trump." A note beside the bottle reads, "Founded 126 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, The Coca-Cola Company takes great pride in producing hundreds of brands that people enjoy. Along with our 60+ independent bottling partners, the Coca-Cola system generates $58+ billion in U.S. economic activity annually and supports more than 860,000 jobs in the United States. We're proud to continue our decades-long tradition of celebrating the U.S. presidential inauguration with a commemorative [bottle]". In 2012, he wrote on X, "I have never seen a thin person drinking Diet Coke." After US President Joe Biden took office, it appeared on January 22, 2021, that he removed the 'Diet Coke' button installed on the presidential desk by his predecessor, Donald Trump, who was devoted to the soda drink. The Hill reported that Trump, a soda devotee, reportedly had the button put in place on the Resolute Desk in order to "keep the carbonated beverages flowing". When pressed, a staffer would be summoned to provide the drink to the thirsty commander in chief. Trump would regularly consume 12 cans of Diet Coke a day, as per media reports.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Vows Coca-Cola Will Use Cane Sugar In U.S. Sodas — But Did Anyone Tell Coke?
Attempting to dismiss the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as a 'hoax' wasn't the only thing President Donald Trump did on Wednesday: He also made a bold claim that Coca-Cola was making a big change to its flagship product. The president took to his Truth Social platform to declare that the soft drink manufacturer had agreed to replace the corn syrup used to sweeten Cokes in the U.S. with cane sugar: 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. 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! There's just one teeny tiny issue with the president's statement: So far, Coca-Cola hasn't confirmed that company officials have agreed to go along with the plan. The closest anyone can find is a link on the Coca-Cola website that has this very broad, open-to-interpretation statement — and not anything close to a confirmation: 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. Considering that Trump announced the news at a time when his followers aren't happy about his recent handling of the Epstein scandal, it's no wonder that the Coke announcement ― which, again, was made without the company's official confirmation ― was thoroughly mocked. Many people assumed the president was trying to create a distraction to draw attention away from other aspects of his presidency. Oh thank god! I've totally forgotten about the Epstein files now! — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 16, 2025 Cool, now release the Epstein files. We're not changing the subject. — Warren (@swd2) July 16, 2025 What Trump did today:- Forgot he appointed Fed Chair Powell during his first term- Yelled at a reporter to be quiet- Said he can't appoint special counsel to investigate Epstein because he has "nothing to do with that"- Prioritized changing the type of sugar in Coca Cola — FactPost (@factpostnews) July 16, 2025 President Trump is the best spokesman for Coca-Cola since Dr. Cosby! — Gary Peterson 🇺🇸 (@GaryPetersonUSA) July 16, 2025 Literally two days ago, Trump announced they were blocking a bunch of sugar imports. Today, Trump says he's gonna make Coca-Cola use like he's actively trying to design the least sensible trade policy possible — Joey Politano 🏳️🌈 (@JosephPolitano) July 16, 2025 Fact check: The whole reason that Coca-Cola uses High Fructose Corn syrup in their sodas here in America of longstanding tariffs on sugar (as @professor_TopK always talks about) — BonkDaCarnivore (@BonkDaCarnivore) July 16, 2025 You can put the cane sugar back in Coke, but you can't take Trump out of the Epstein files — Jamie Bonkiewicz (@JamieBonkiewicz) July 16, 2025 Decades of protectionist trade polices are the reason that Coca-Cola does not use real sugar in its US product. Sugar costs twice as much in the USA as in free-trade countries. — David Frum (@davidfrum) July 16, 2025 Trump needs to bring back cocaine in Coca Cola — e-beth (@ebeth360) July 16, 2025 Trump is working on getting everyone the special Jew Coke. (Coca Cola uses cane sugar in its limited Kosher for Passover line, which is why some non-Jewish enthusiasts buy it up every year, and also why some antisemites are obsessed with "Jew Coke.") — Yair Rosenberg (@Yair_Rosenberg) July 16, 2025 Related... Coca-Cola's Trump Honor Leaves Critics Bubbling With Outrage Gen. Mike Flynn Has A Teeny Tiny Request For Donald Trump Republican Sen. Calls Out Trump For Trying To Move On From Epstein Trump Melts Down Over 'Jeffrey Epstein Hoax' — And The Internet Explodes
