Last Updated on September 19, 2025 by Ayoko Ahite

Trump says Coca-Cola agreed to use Cane Sugar instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup

On July 16, 2025, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he had been in discussions with Executives at Coca-Cola, and they agreed to eliminate high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) from their U.S.-made beverages and use “Real cane sugar” instead.

This aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to encourage food companies to remove artificial dyes and other ingredients from their recipes. The goal, he said, is to improve Americans’ health through high-quality foods.

Coca-Cola's response to Trump's announcement

While the company didn’t immediately confirm or deny what Trump said, they told multiple news outlets, “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.”

But is cane sugar healthier than high-fructose corn syrup? Not according to Coca-Cola

After a social media user inquired about the difference between high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar, Coca-Cola weighed in. The company posted, “The name sounds complex, but HFCS is actually just a sweetener made from corn. 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 continued, “The American Medical Association has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners. Please, be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances. All Coca-Cola products are wholesome beverages manufactured in compliance with the federal law governing food safety and labeling, the laws of all the states, and the laws of over 200 countries throughout the world where they are sold.”

The latter response by Coca-Cola makes it clear that the company’s view of HFCS differs from Trump’s. They don’t think that cane sugar is any healthier than HFCS. Nonetheless, they seem willing to make some changes, and Trump is certainly happy about that.