Coca-Cola has had a bit of controversy, to say the least. In his telling, Former President Donald Trump convinced the beverage giant to replace its use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in U.S. products in favor of cane sugar. The Georgia-headquartered company promptly debunked these claims, insisting that it would still be using HFCS in the U.S. market.
In a recent statement, Trump expressed gratitude to Coca-Cola, saying, “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.” Coca-Cola quickly put that rumor to rest, announcing that it wouldn’t be adjusting its formulation—which has used HFCS since the 1980s.
At the time, the company was trying to position HFCS as a natural and more affordable sweetener made from corn, the darling of U.S. farming and sweetening subsidies. Today Coca-Cola acknowledged that the name is indeed confusing. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the sweetener found in many of our drinks, is nothing but a sweetener made from corn. It’s safe to eat. It has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar, and your body actually metabolizes it almost identically.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has weighed in on this debate, stating that HFCS “has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners.” They mentioned that “at the present time, insufficient evidence exists to specifically restrict use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or other fructose-containing sweeteners in the food supply or to require the use of warning labels on products containing HFCS.”
Coca-Cola does use imported cane sugar for its beverages in Mexico and the UK, it is true. U.S. tariffs on sugar cane imports make changing the company’s American formulation more difficult. Under Trump’s administration, high tariffs were imposed on nations producing sugar cane, making it costly for Coca-Cola to consider such a switch domestically.
Moreover, Coca-Cola’s CEO, James Quincey, gifted Trump an inaugural Diet Coke bottle while in office. And yes, Diet Coke does not contain HFCS or cane sugar. Instead, it derives its sweetness from aspartame, an artificial low-calorie sweetener.
In recent years, illegally imported Coca-Cola products from Mexico have flooded the U.S. market. These unofficial “Mexican Coke” drinks are usually priced considerably higher than the competition’s product since they’re made with cane sugar—not high fructose corn syrup.
As the debate over sweeteners continues, Coca-Cola remains steadfast in its commitment to HFCS for its U.S. products, while addressing health concerns raised by various organizations.