Coca-Cola announced intentions to launch a new version of its signature soda sweetened with cane sugar in the US, a significant change in its formulation plans.
This is in response to comments made recently by former US President Donald Trump, who stated he had urged the beverage giant to return to using real cane sugar. Trump, a public supporter of aspartame-sweetened Diet Coke, has long been vocal about his preference for a return to natural sweeteners.
Originally, Coca-Cola employed cane sugar in its formulations but turned to high-fructose corn syrup in 1984 amid rising sugar prices, according to Fortune.
The company made the announcement in its Q2 earnings report published on July 22, 2025. In the statement, "As part of its continued innovation agenda, this autumn in the United States, the company will introduce an offering created with US cane sugar to further diversify its Trademark Coca-Cola product line." Quoted in People magazine, Coca-Cola highlighted that this new offering is meant to "augment the company's robust core portfolio and provide more options across occasions and preferences."
On his Truth Social site, Trump wrote: "I have been talking to Coca-Cola about putting REAL Cane Sugar into Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do it. I'd like to thank all those in power at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good decision by them - You'll see. It's just better!"
Cane sugar-sweetened Coca-Cola, commonly referred to as "Mexican Coke" because it is made in Mexico in the old way using glass bottles, is already on US shelves in small quantities imported.
But Trump's support has sparked criticism, especially from the American corn industry's representatives. On July 16, 2025, John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, launched a strong counter-attack: "Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense. President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit."
He went on to contend, "Substitution of high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would eliminate thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, lower farm revenues, and increase imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional value."
With the upcoming launch of this cane sugar alternative, Coca-Cola is well-positioned to meet changing consumer preferences and offer a greater variety of ingredient choices in its product portfolio.
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